A 26-year-old Atlanta man is in custody after a violent shooting spree across DeKalb County and Brookhaven early Monday morning left two women dead and a 49-year-old homeless man critically injured. Olaolukitan Adon Abel was arrested Monday afternoon in Troup County during a felony traffic stop, with authorities crediting FLOCK camera data and multi-agency cooperation for the swift capture.
The spree began around 12:50 a.m. Monday when Abel allegedly fired multiple rounds from a silver Volkswagen Jetta rental vehicle at a woman outside a Checkers restaurant on Wesley Chapel Road in unincorporated DeKalb County. The victim was transported to a hospital where she later died. Her identity has not been publicly released.
Just before 2 a.m., the violence continued at the Cherokee Plaza Shopping Center on Peachtree Road in Brookhaven. A 49-year-old homeless man who had been sleeping on the sidewalk outside the Kroger was shot multiple times. According to Brookhaven Police Chief Brandon Gurley, officers used technology that streamed 911 audio directly to patrol cars, allowing them to reach the scene within approximately three minutes. The victim remains in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital.
At approximately 6:50 a.m., DeKalb County police responded to a third incident on Battle Forrest Drive, where they found 40-year-old Lauren Bullis suffering from both gunshot and stab wounds. Bullis, who was walking her dog at the time of the attack, was pronounced dead at the scene. A neighbor who witnessed the attack told police she saw a man standing over the victim and attempting to pull her pants down before fleeing.
Investigators used FLOCK camera technology to track the suspect’s silver Volkswagen Jetta as it left the crime scenes. The vehicle was a rental car, and authorities worked with the rental agency to identify Abel as the driver. The Georgia Department of Public Safety, along with the Troup County Sheriff’s Office, located the vehicle and conducted a felony traffic stop on Interstate 185 near LaGrange. Abel was taken into custody without incident.
Abel faces two counts of malice murder in DeKalb County, as well as aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in Brookhaven. Additional charges are pending, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Police have stated that the attacks appear to be completely random, with no connection between Abel and any of the victims.
Brookhaven Police Chief Brandon Gurley described the attack on the homeless man as “a completely random attack on a member of our unhoused community.” He also noted that police believe the pattern of violence would likely have continued if Abel had not been apprehended.
The investigation remains active as authorities continue to review evidence from all three crime scenes. Police have not released a motive for the shootings and have stated that there is no ongoing threat to the public, as the suspect remains in custody.
The Brookhaven and DeKalb County communities have expressed shock and sorrow following the deadly shooting spree. A witness who lives near the Battle Forrest Drive scene described hearing six to seven gunshots before seeing the victim lying on the ground with a man standing over her. The witness told police she made eye contact with the suspect before he fled.
Abel is being held pending further court proceedings as the case moves forward through the judicial system. Authorities have asked anyone with additional information to contact the Brookhaven Police Department or DeKalb County Police Department.