A Nigerian-American man, Olaolukitan Abel, who was being held over alleged involvement in the killing of a United States Department of Homeland Security staff member, has been found dead in custody in Georgia, United States.
Abel, 26, was discovered unresponsive in his prison cell days after his arrest in connection with a firearm-related case tied to a homicide in Decatur, DeKalb County.
US authorities had earlier linked him to the case in a statement issued by the US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Theodore Hertzberg, and published on the Department of Justice website.
Hertzberg said police responded to a reported killing in the early hours of April 13, 2026, in a residential area of Decatur, where a DHS employee, Lauren Bullis, was later identified as the victim.
Investigators reportedly recovered a 9mm handgun and spent shells at the scene, which triggered a forensic probe into the source of the weapon.
The investigation led to a man identified as Damon Marquis Yarns, who allegedly admitted purchasing the firearm in Midtown Atlanta in February 2026 and later handing it over to Abel.
Yarns was said to have told investigators that he was paid to procure the weapon and falsely declared himself as the buyer on official forms before delivering it to Abel.
Following the breakthrough, law enforcement officers arrested Abel after stopping his vehicle in Troup County, where ammunition matching items found at the crime scene was reportedly recovered.
He was subsequently charged with multiple offences, including murder, aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and was remanded in custody in DeKalb County Jail.
Prosecutors also disclosed that Abel had previous convictions, including an assault case involving a police officer and a separate sexual battery offence for which he had received probation.
However, in a fresh development reported by US media, Abel was found unresponsive in his cell on April 21.
Correctional officers were said to have attempted resuscitation, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
Authorities have stated that foul play is not suspected at this stage, while an internal investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of death.
The case adds to a growing number of incidents involving Nigerians who have died abroad, including a recent report of a Nigerian worker found dead at his workplace in the United Kingdom.
