Nigerian-American murder suspect found dead in US detention

A dual Nigerian-American citizen, Olaolukitan Abel, has died in custody following his arrest for illegal firearm possession linked to the murder of a Department of Homeland Security officer in Decatur, Georgia, United States.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Monday from a statement by the US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Theodore Hertzberg, published on April 17 on the US Department of Justice website, that Abel was arrested after an investigation into the officer’s death was traced to him.

According to Hertzberg, in the early hours of April 13, 2026, DeKalb County Police Department officers responded to a reported homicide in a residential neighbourhood in Decatur, Georgia.

He noted that the US Department of Homeland Security later identified the victim as one of its employees, Lauren Bullis. Police reportedly found a loaded 9mm pistol and five 9mm cartridge casings near the victim.

Hertzberg stated that a National Tracing Centre analysis of the firearm revealed that one Damon Marquis Yarns had allegedly purchased the 9mm pistol from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Midtown Atlanta on February 20, 2026.

The Attorney continued, “Yesterday, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives interviewed Yarns. Yarns explained that he had been residing in homeless shelters since relocating to Atlanta last year.

“He allegedly admitted that he purchased a firearm for a Nigerian or British man he knew only as ‘Abdul or Obie,’ whom he identified in a photo array as Abel.

“Yarns stated that Abel paid for him to travel by rideshare to purchase the firearm.

“He also admitted that he falsely declared on an ATF form that he was the actual buyer of the firearm. After the purchase, Yarns allegedly handed the firearm to Abel and never had possession of it again.”

Hertzberg further stated that on April 13, Georgia State Patrol troopers stopped Abel’s car in Troup County. A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered a box of 9mm ammunition and shell casings matching the same brand found at the crime scene in Decatur.

He said Abel was arrested and transferred to DeKalb County, where he faced multiple felony charges, including malice murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

He added, “Abel was previously convicted of a felony for assault of a police officer with a deadly weapon on January 2, 2025, in the Superior Court of San Diego County, California, and was sentenced to probation in June 2025 for four counts of misdemeanour sexual battery in the Recorder’s Court of Chatham County, Georgia.

“Damon Marquis Yarns, 35, appeared in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher C. Bly and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings. Olaolukitan Adon Abel, 26, remained incarcerated at the DeKalb County Jail.

“Members of the public are reminded that complaints only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent, and the government bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.”

However, in an update reported by US media outlet The New York Post, Abel was found unresponsive in his cell on April 21.

The report stated that the cause of death had not been determined at the time of filing.

“A UK immigrant and career criminal charged in a ‘pure evil’ killing spree in Georgia that claimed the life of a Department of Homeland Security employee and two others was found dead in jail Tuesday night, according to authorities.

“Olaolukitan Adon-Abel, 26, was discovered dead in his cell. Authorities performed lifesaving measures on the convicted felon, but he was pronounced dead, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

“His cause of death is not yet known, but officials do not suspect foul play and will conduct an internal review,” the report added.

PUNCH Metro also reported on Monday that, for the third time in April, a Nigerian, Ademola Oke, was found dead at his workplace in the United Kingdom.

A close family friend, Adejonwo Odutola, said Oke left home in good health at about 2 p.m. for work but was later found dead by a colleague who arrived for a night shift.