Roommates Detail AC Argument Before Atlanta-Area Shooting Spree
Roommates of a man accused of killing two people and critically injuring another in a series of attacks in the Atlanta area have disclosed that a violent dispute over air conditioning erupted shortly before the shootings. According to their accounts, Olaolukitan Adon Abel, a 26-year-old U.K. native and U.S. Navy veteran, stormed out of his communal home after an intense argument late Sunday night.
Charges and Federal Prosecution Announced
Authorities have charged Adon Abel in DeKalb County state court with two counts of malice murder, aggravated assault, and firearms offenses. Additionally, federal prosecutors announced on Friday that he faces a firearms charge for illegally possessing a weapon as a convicted felon. Another individual, Damon Marquis Yarns, a 35-year-old homeless man, is accused of purchasing the gun used in the shootings for Adon Abel and falsifying federal ownership documents.
Victims and Attack Locations Identified
The attacks occurred early Monday morning across multiple locations in the Atlanta region. Prianna Weathers, 31, was fatally shot outside a fast-food restaurant in Decatur around 12:50 a.m. Approximately an hour later, a 49-year-old homeless man was shot multiple times while sleeping outside a grocery store in Brookhaven; he remains hospitalized in stable but critical condition. Lauren Bullis, an auditor for the Department of Homeland Security, was found with gunshot and stab wounds near Adon Abel's home around 7 a.m. while walking her dog.
Roommates Describe Tense Household Environment
Three roommates living with Adon Abel in a PadSplit home in Panthersville, a suburb southeast of Atlanta, reported ongoing tensions. Angela Britton stated that arguments over the air conditioning were frequent, with Adon Abel keeping the house excessively cold. Lakisha Mckinzie revealed she had feared Adon Abel since he inappropriately touched her last month after asking her on a date, and she had complained to the landlord multiple times without action. PadSplit has not responded to requests for comment regarding these allegations.
Investigation Links Suspect to Crimes
Georgia State Patrol troopers stopped Adon Abel's vehicle in Troup County near the Georgia-Alabama border on Monday morning. Investigators found ammunition and shell casings in the car that matched evidence from Weathers' killing scene. Police also recovered the gun and shell casings near Bullis' location. Authorities have linked Adon Abel to all three attacks, though it remains unclear if he knew any of the victims; police suspect at least one was targeted randomly.
Background and Previous Convictions
Adon Abel, granted U.S. citizenship in 2022 while serving in the Navy in San Diego, has a criminal history. He pleaded guilty in October 2024 in San Diego County to assault with a deadly weapon and criminal vandalism related to an attack on police officers. Online records also show a person with a similar name and birth date pleaded guilty last June in Chatham County, Georgia, to four misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has expressed concerns about Adon Abel's citizenship approval during the Biden administration, though it is unclear if his prior crimes occurred before naturalization.
Federal Involvement and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for northern Georgia confirmed that Yarns admitted to buying the 9 mm pistol from a licensed dealer in Atlanta on February 20 for a man he knew as "Abdul or Obie," later identified as Adon Abel from a photo. The case highlights issues with firearm regulations and shared housing safety, as the roommates' warnings went unheeded. Prosecutors continue to investigate the full scope of the attacks and potential motives.
