Federal authorities have indicted a homeless man in connection with the purchase of a firearm allegedly used in an attack that killed a U.S. Department of Homeland Security employee in DeKalb County.
According to federal prosecutors for the Northern District of Georgia, a 9mm handgun was recovered near the crime scene on Battle Forest Drive, where victim Lauren Bullis was found dead in the early hours of April 13. A loaded firearm and five 9mm shell casings were discovered at the scene.
◼️ The Path of the Firearm
Court records show that 35-year-old Damon Marquis Yarns purchased the firearm on February 20 in Midtown Atlanta from a federally licensed dealer, amid a rise in weapon seizures in Atlanta.
During an interview with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Yarns admitted to purchasing the gun on behalf of another individual—later identified as 26-year-old Olaolukitan Adon Abel.
Yarns stated he had been living in homeless shelters and that Abel provided the money for transportation to complete the transaction.
Prosecutors said Yarns made false statements on federal forms by claiming to be the actual buyer—a practice known as a “straw purchase,” which is a violation of federal law.
Following the purchase, Yarns handed the weapon over to Abel and did not retain possession of it.
◼️ Arrest and Evidence
On the same day, April 13, patrol units from the Georgia Department of Public Safety intercepted Abel's vehicle in Troup County, a dangerous situation frequently seen in police pursuit shootings.
Upon searching the vehicle, authorities discovered a box of 9mm ammunition and shell casings of the same type found at the Decatur crime scene.
Abel was arrested and transferred to DeKalb County.
◼️ The Charges
Abel faces several serious charges, including:
– Malice murder
– Aggravated assault
– Illegal possession of a firearm (due to a prior felony conviction)
Records indicate Abel was previously convicted of assaulting a police officer with a dangerous weapon in California (January 2025) and received probation in Georgia (June 2025) for four counts related to molestation/harm.
◼️ Legal Proceedings
Yarns has been federally indicted, has appeared in court, and is currently being held pending trial.
Abel is currently being held in DeKalb County, where the murder case continues to be processed at the local level following a series of fatal shootings that have recently shocked the community.
◼️ Expanded Investigation
The case is led by the ATF in coordination with:
– DeKalb County Police Department
– Brookhaven Police Department
– U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
– DHS Office of Inspector General
Authorities are continuing to clarify the full sequence of events surrounding the attack.
