DHS Worker Killed In DeKalb Shooting, Stabbing While Walking Dog: Feds

BROOKHAVEN, GA — The woman who was fatally stabbed and shot during a crime spree this week in Brookhaven has been identified as a Department of Homeland Security staffer.

Department Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed the news Wednesday, identifying the suspect as 26-year-old United Kingdom native Olaolukitan Adon Abel. Jail records showed Abel linked to an Atlanta address.

The deadly incident happened Monday morning at Battle Forrest Drive. DeKalb County Police on Tuesday identified the woman as Lauren Bullis, 40.

Officers responded around 6:45 a.m. to Battle Forrest after receiving a report of a person shot. Police said when they arrived, they found Bullis with stab and gunshot wounds.

A suspect was not located after a K9 search; however, police announced they arrested a suspect the next day. They did not identify the suspect at the time.

Mullin accused Abel, who was naturalized in 2022, of killing Bullis while she walked her dog.

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Police said they connected Abel to another shooting that happened that same day around 12:45 a.m. near a Wesley Chapel Road fast-food restaurant.

Officers found a woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds when they arrived, police said.

She was taken to a hospital, where she later died of her injuries, police said. She was not identified, pending next-of-kin notification.

Mullin said Abel is accused in a third incident during which a homeless man was shot multiple times near a Brookhaven grocery store. His condition was not immediately available.

"These acts of pure evil have devastated our Department and my prayers are with the families of the victims," Mullin said.

DeKalb County Jail records on Friday showed Abel faces two counts of malice murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or first offender probationer. He is being held without bond. He waived an initial court appearance Tuesday.

Toyin Adon Abel Jr., the defendant’s brother, told The Associated Press he did not want to talk about his brother when reached by phone but expressed sympathy for the victims. “I feel terrible for the victims, their families and their connections,” he said. “It’s a horrible thing.”

Bullis served in multiple roles at DHS Office of Inspector General, including as an auditor in the Office of Audits and as a Team Leader in the Office of Innovation, DHS posted on social media, saying she brought “warmth, kindness, and a genuine sense of care to her colleagues each day.”

Relatives said in a statement, that she loved her family, running, reading and traveling and “her warmth and generosity touched everyone surrounding her.”

Fellow DHS auditor Ashley Toillion of Denver said she met Bullis at a work conference last year. The two became fast friends as they bonded over running and quickly made plans to do a race at Walt Disney World.

“You couldn’t meet her and not be her friend,” Toillion said, choking back tears. “She was just the nicest, sweetest, most encouraging person I’ve ever met.”

Military records show Abel enlisted in the Navy in 2020, last serving in the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron in Coronado, California, and as a petty officer received a Navy “E” Ribbon for superior performance for battle readiness.

But in 2024 he was arrested and charged with assaulting two Coronado police officers and attacking another person. He pleaded guilty, court records show, and he was kicked out of the Navy in September of that year.

Mullin said Abel had an extensive criminal history, including being charged with sexual battery and battery against a police officer.

The Associated Press contributed reporting and writing.