Navy veteran charged in series of Atlanta-area shootings dies in jail
[April 22, 2026]
ATLANTA (AP) — A man charged in a string of shootings near
Atlanta that left three people dead, including a Department of Homeland
Security employee who was walking her dog, died in jail Tuesday night,
authorities said.
Olaolukitan Adon Abel, 26, was found in his cell unresponsive, according
to a statement from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. Officials
performed lifesaving measures on the U.S. Navy veteran, but he was later
pronounced dead. |
This photo provided by Georgia's Chatham County Sheriff's Office shows
Olaolukitan Adon Abel on April 20, 2025. (Chatham County Sheriff's
Office via AP) |
|
The official cause of death has not been determined, but
officials don't suspect foul play, according to the office.
Officials are conducting an internal review.
Adon Abel was accused of killing Prianna Weathers, 31, and DHS
auditor Lauren Bullis, 40, in last week's attack. Authorities
had also been seeking an additional murder charge for Tony
Mathews, 49, who was injured in the attack and died Sunday.
Authorities haven’t offered a potential motive for the
shootings. It’s unclear if Adon Abel knew any of the victims —
police have said they believe at least one was targeted at
random.
Adon Abel's roommates told The Associated Press that shortly
before the shootings, he got in an intense argument over the air
conditioning in their home and stormed out. He lived with six
others in separate units of the home.
The United Kingdom native was granted U.S. citizenship in 2022
while serving in the U.S. Navy and stationed in the San Diego
area.
The attacks quickly drew the Trump administration’s attention,
with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin raising
concern that Adon Abel was granted U.S. citizenship when
Democrat Joe Biden was president. Mullin cataloged a litany of
Adon Abel's previous alleged crimes, but it is unclear whether
any of them occurred before he became a citizen.
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