Suspect accused of killing 3 people across Atlanta suburbs dies in jail, sparking intense reactions from a victim’s widow
a man accused killing three people, A number of people, including a Department of Homeland Security employee, died in custody in a shooting rampage in multiple Atlanta suburbs last week, authorities said.
Olaolukitan Adon-Abel, 26, was found unresponsive in his jail cell at around 6.48pm on Tuesday. In a statement from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, it was stated that detention personnel tried to save him, but he was pronounced dead about half an hour later.
“There is no indication of criminal activity or foul play,” the statement said. Deputy Chief Investigator Jess Dillard said the sheriff’s office is reviewing the circumstances of death and the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office is trying to determine the cause and manner of death.
Dillard told CNN on Thursday that the investigation, including laboratory testing, “could take months to complete.”
Adon-Abel was charged with the murder of 31-year-old Prianna Weathers; Tony Matthews, 48; and DHS auditor Lauren Bullis, 40, at three locations miles apart on the morning of April 13. The reason for the attack and why the attacker chose his victims remains unclear.
The suspect’s death sparked a harsh reaction from Matthews’ widow, who was raising the couple’s 10-month-old baby on her own.
The victim, Tony Matthews, helped his three stepchildren get green cards, his family said. He and his wife had recently given birth to a baby girl. -Courtesy of the Matthews family
“The killer is a dead-hearted man who has no regard for (anyone’s) life, including his own,” Dorah Matthews told CNN.
Triple shooting – among nearly 4,000 US gun deaths so far this year – also sparked intense criticism from DHS, which accused the previous White House administration of allowing Adon-Abel, a UK citizen, to become a US citizen in 2022.
A terrifying morning
The unexplained attack began shortly before 1 a.m. when Weathers was shot and killed near a restaurant in Decatur. HE my 12 year old son He is now left to grow up without a mother.
About an hour later, Tony Matthews was shot multiple times near a grocery store in Brookhaven, about 15 miles to the northwest. His sister-in-law, Miranda Matthews, said the welder was the kind of person who would help anyone.
And shortly before 7 a.m., Bullis was shot and stabbed while walking his French bulldog in Panthersville, more than 10 miles from where Matthews was shot. Bullis was a DHS auditor, avid runner, and world traveler who became instant friends with everyone he met. my loved ones told me.
Lauren Bullis poses for a photo at Green Meadows Preserve in Cobb County, Georgia in 2025. — Sunisa Kim Kipe, via AP
Feds cite criminal record but crimes may have occurred after citizenship
Adon-Abel was previously convicted of several crimes, including sexual assault and assault with a deadly weapon. in question. IT He blamed the Biden administration Allowing naturalization of a “monster” in 2022.
However, DHS did not say whether these crimes were committed before or after the suspect became a U.S. citizen. Ministry of Justice announced Convictions in 2025Years after the suspect was naturalized.
Court records show a defendant listed as Adon Olaolukitan, who has the same date of birth as the triple shooting suspect, pleaded guilty to four counts of misdemeanor sexual assault related to a 2025 incident in Georgia. He was sentenced to 48 months probation.
Another court filing shows a defendant named “Olaolukitan Adonabel” pleaded guilty in California to a 2024 aggravated assault with a deadly weapon “other than a firearm directed at a police officer or firefighter.” It is stated that the suspect’s name may also appear in the recording as follows: Olaolukitan Adon Abel or Adon Olaolukitan.
Records show several other charges in dismissed cases.
At the time of his death, Adon-Abel’s charges included premeditated murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Ministry of Justice.
The Justice Department said a tracking analysis linked the gun in the triple shooting case to Damon Marquis Yarns, a homeless man who allegedly told authorities he had purchased a firearm for a man he identified in the photo lineup as Adon-Abel. Yarns also faces federal firearms charges.
A widow wanted to confront the suspect and beg for mercy
While Adon-Abel’s death ends the accusations against him, it also means that some answers may never be known.
The Georgia Public Defenders Council said “His death did not give him the opportunity to contest the charges.” “We also regret that victims’ families, friends and colleagues may now be left without more comprehensive answers. … This is a painful and sobering reality for everyone affected.”
His sister-in-law wrote that before Matthews was shot, he was “working tirelessly to get green cards for his wife and stepchildren, hoping to make a better life for them here.” verified GoFundMe page to support his wife and children.
“Now his family faces not only the unimaginable pain of losing him, but also the uncertainty of their future in a new country.”
He said Matthews’ widow was “waiting for the day” when she could confront the man accused of killing her husband.
“But I still hope for mercy,” Dorah Matthews said.
“Do you know what I want to tell him? I still forgive him for killing my husband… for not giving my baby a chance for a papa bear hug.”
CNN’s Taylor Romine and Ryan Young contributed to this report.
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