A Department of Homeland Security employee walking her dog in an Atlanta-area neighborhood was killed in a violent attack Monday morning.
DeKalb County police responded to a home on Battle Forrest Drive around 6:50 a.m., where officers found the victim suffering from both gunshot and stab wounds.
“I heard 6 to 7 shots, so I ran out the door, and when I ran out the door, I saw the lady across the street with a man standing over her,” witness Tiffany Williams told WXIA-TV.
Williams said she made eye contact with the suspect as she rushed outside after hearing the gunfire.
On Monday, Olaolukitan Adon Abel murdered three people, including a DHS employee, Lauren Bullis, who was brutally shot and stabbed to death while she was walking her dog.
This monster was naturalized by the Biden administration.
Adon Abel also possesses a prior criminal record… pic.twitter.com/aExWgmdkGo
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) April 15, 2026
“I was getting up, getting my grandbaby ready for school, and I heard six to seven shots, so I ran out the door, and when I ran out the door, I saw the lady across the street with a man standing over her,” she detailed.
“I heard the shooting, but I’m not thinking because as a mother and I’m seeing her lying there, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to help her,’” she added.
Williams said the situation turned even more disturbing when she realized what the suspect was doing.
She also told investigators the man had begun pulling down the victim’s pants before fleeing the scene.
“I saw he was wearing all black, and then he ran up the street,” she explained.
Neighbors described the area as quiet, noting that many of the residents are elderly and that violence of this kind is rare in the neighborhood.
Police later identified the victim as 40-year-old Lauren Bullis, an employee with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
Authorities said Bullis was walking her dog, Sancho, at the time of the attack. The dog remains missing following the incident.
Investigators quickly connected the suspect to other violent crimes reported earlier that same day.
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During a media briefing, Brookhaven and DeKalb County officials said 26-year-old Olaolukitan Adon Abel was taken into custody after a traffic stop in Troup County.
Police connected Abel to a fatal shooting at a Checkers restaurant on Wesley Chapel Road, as well as the killing of a homeless man outside a Kroger store in Brookhaven.
Another victim, a woman shot near the Checkers location around 12:50 a.m., did not survive at a hospital.
Authorities said the Kroger victim had been sleeping when he was shot several times around 2 a.m.
Abel now faces two counts of murder, aggravated assault, and multiple gun-related charges.
Federal officials also released details about his background following the arrest.
“This monster was naturalized by the Biden administration,” DHS said. “Adon Abel also possesses a prior criminal record that includes convictions for sexual battery, battery against a police officer, obstruction, and assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism. Our prayers are with the families of the victims during this tragic time.”
The agency also described Bullis as a dedicated employee who made a strong impact within the department.
“In every role she held, Lauren exemplified dedication to the OIG mission,” DHS stated. “Lauren approached her work with integrity, thoughtfulness, and a commitment to excellence that strengthened our organization and the communities we serve.”
“Beyond her professional accomplishments, Lauren was a bright spot for so many of the DHS community,” the agency continued. “She brought warmth, kindness, and a genuine sense of care to her colleagues each day.”
The Atlanta-area case follows another violent incident earlier this month in Florida involving a woman attacked while walking her dog.
Police arrested 25-year-old Kersten Francilus in connection with the slaying of of 73-year-old Joyce Thompson Adams in Stuart on April 2.
Investigators said Adams suffered an extreme number of stab wounds during the attack.
An autopsy found injuries so severe that the medical examiner could not determine an exact count, though early estimates suggested between 16 and 17 stab wounds.
Authorities said Francilus later admitted to the killing.
According to investigators, he told detectives he wandered the neighborhood before encountering the victim.
He described the attack in blunt terms, saying he “found a lady and then I killed her,” according to the affidavit.
Officials said he also incorrectly described the victim as Jewish when speaking to investigators.
“Nothing at this point indicates that he’s antisemitic at all, other than the statement that he made,” Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said.
Residents in the area had already reported suspicious behavior before the attack took place.
Multiple 911 callers said a man was wandering between homes, asking about a bank that does not exist and attempting to enter houses.
One caller reported that he was actively attacking a woman.
A responding deputy arrived to find Francilus allegedly on top of Adams and still stabbing her.
Authorities said he dropped the weapon and surrendered after being ordered to stop.
Paramedics transported Adams to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Investigators said Francilus’ mother told deputies her son had stopped taking medication and had been hiding knives inside their home.
She also reported previous incidents in which he claimed to hear voices.
Officials said he had at least two prior encounters with law enforcement before the attack.
Adams’ daughter later confirmed her mother had no connection to Judaism.
“At this point, this appears like an extremely violent, random act of violence, really an odd set of circumstances for this nice neighborhood,” Budensiek said.
“We just simply know that we’ve had a horrendous crime that’s taken place in this neighborhood.”
A prosecutor described the attack in court as ongoing even as law enforcement arrived.
“He stabbed her … upwards of 16 times and was actively stabbing her while the responding deputy responded to the scene,” the prosecutor said.
“He spoke to law enforcement and [said] he killed her. When asked to describe her … the only way he could describe her was that she was Jewish.”
