An Atlanta-area man has been charged in connection with a series of attacks Monday that left two women dead and a man in critical condition across three different locations over approximately six hours.

The first attack occurred around 1 a.m. near a restaurant in Decatur, where a woman was found with multiple gunshot wounds. She was transported to a hospital but died from her injuries. About an hour later in Brookhaven, approximately 12 miles northwest, a 49-year-old homeless man sleeping outside a grocery store was shot multiple times. He remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Just before 7 a.m., more than 10 miles away in Panthersville, officers responding to a call found a woman with gunshot and stab wounds who died at the scene. Police have identified this victim as Lauren Bullis, a Department of Homeland Security employee who was walking her dog at the time of the attack.

Olaolukitan Adon Abel, 26, was arrested Monday during a traffic stop in Troup County, which borders Alabama. He faces charges including two counts of malice murder, aggravated assault, and firearms violations. Abel, a UK native who became a US citizen in 2022, waived his initial court appearance Tuesday.

Authorities believe at least one victim was targeted at random and are investigating whether the other attacks were also random. Brookhaven Police Chief Brandon Gurley described the attack on the homeless man as "completely random."

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued a statement expressing condolences and noting that Abel has a criminal record, though the timing of any previous convictions relative to his citizenship application remains unclear. Court records show someone with a matching name and birth date pleaded guilty to sexual battery charges in Georgia last June.