It was still dark and quiet in Decatur when the first shots rang out. By sunrise, a community known for its calm streets was shaken by a chain of violence that left two people dead and another injured, all tied to a single suspect now in custody.
Police say 40-year-old Lauren Bullis was simply doing what she always did. She was walking her dog early Monday morning along Battle Forest Drive, a routine that neighbors say was part of her daily life. That routine ended in tragedy when a man approached her without warning and opened fire.
Witnesses described a sudden and brutal attack. Bullis was struck multiple times and collapsed. Investigators say the suspect then tried to assault her as she lay wounded. A nearby resident, hearing the chaos, rushed outside and screamed for help, urging family members to call 911. By the time officers arrived, the damage had already been done.
Earlier that same morning, just before 1 a.m., another woman had been shot outside a Checkers restaurant on Wesley Chapel Road. She was rushed to the hospital but later died from her injuries. Authorities now believe both killings are connected.
In between those two deadly encounters, a third act of violence unfolded. Around 1:59 a.m., police in Brookhaven responded to a shooting outside a Kroger store on Peachtree Road. One person was injured. Investigators say there appears to be no connection between that victim and the suspect, raising fears that the attacks were random.
By 6:50 a.m., the violence returned to Decatur. Officers responding to calls on Battle Forest Drive found Bullis suffering from both gunshot and stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The brutality of the attack has left neighbors unsettled, many describing the area as normally peaceful and safe.
Authorities have since taken 26-year-old Olaolukitan Adon Abel into custody in Troup County. Investigators tracked a rental vehicle believed to be tied to the incidents using Flock camera technology, leading to his arrest. He remains in custody and is being questioned as detectives work to understand what drove the attacks.
Law enforcement officials say the investigation is still active. Multiple agencies are involved, trying to piece together a timeline and determine a motive. For now, residents are left grieving and on edge, urged to stay alert as the community searches for answers after a morning that changed everything.
