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Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Wednesday that a Department of Homeland Security employee was killed in a series of attacks in the Atlanta suburb of Brookhaven that left two people dead and another injured.
Authorities identified the suspect as 26-year-old Olaolukitan Adon Abel. Mullin said the man was born in the United Kingdom and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen under the Biden administration. Officials described him as an alleged assailant in the attacks.
The victim was identified as Lauren Bullis, a DHS employee who was attacked Monday while walking her dog. Police said she was shot and stabbed and died at the scene.
Investigators said the suspect is also accused of shooting a homeless man multiple times outside a grocery store and injuring a woman in a separate shooting nearby.
Brookhaven Police Chief Brandon Gurley said authorities believe the incidents were random and that Bullis was not specifically targeted.
Mullin said the suspect had a prior criminal history that included convictions for sexual battery, assault and other offenses.
“Since President Trump took office, [US Citizenship and Immigration Services] has implemented measures to ensure individuals with criminal histories and who otherwise lack good moral character do not attain citizenship,” Mullin wrote in a social media post. “These acts of pure evil have devastated our Department and my prayers are with the families of the victims.”
The Department of Homeland Security said Bullis served in multiple roles within its Office of Inspector General, including as an auditor and later as a team leader.
“In every role she held, Lauren exemplified dedication to the OIG mission,” the department said in a statement. “Lauren approached her work with integrity, thoughtfulness, and a commitment to excellence that strengthened our organization and the communities we serve … This horrific incident is a devastating loss for the entire DHS community.”