A Nigerian-American man, Olaolukitan Abel, has died in detention days after his arrest over alleged involvement in the killing of a United States Department of Homeland Security official in Decatur, Georgia.
Authorities confirmed that Abel, 26, was found unresponsive in his cell on April 21, with emergency responders unable to revive him. Officials said the cause of death had yet to be determined, although foul play was not immediately suspected.
Abel had been arrested following an investigation into the death of Lauren Bullis, who was shot dead in a residential neighbourhood in Decatur in the early hours of April 13.
According to the US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Theodore Hertzberg, police recovered a loaded 9mm pistol and spent cartridges at the scene.
Investigators later traced the firearm to a purchase made by Damon Marquis Yarns, who allegedly admitted buying the weapon on behalf of a man he identified as Abel.
Authorities said Yarns, who had been staying in homeless shelters, confessed to falsely declaring himself as the actual buyer of the firearm and handing it over after purchase.
Further investigations revealed that Abel was intercepted by Georgia State Patrol officers in Troup County on April 13, where a search of his vehicle reportedly uncovered ammunition consistent with that used at the crime scene.
He was subsequently charged with multiple offences, including murder, aggravated assault and illegal possession of a firearm, and remanded at the DeKalb County Jail pending trial.
Prosecutors also disclosed that Abel had a prior criminal record, including a felony conviction for assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon in California, as well as other misdemeanour offences in Georgia.
Meanwhile, Yarns has appeared before a federal court and remains in custody as investigations continue.
In a separate development, concerns have also been raised over recent deaths involving Nigerians abroad. Reports indicated that another Nigerian, Ademola Oke, was recently found dead at his workplace in the United Kingdom under unclear circumstances.
Authorities in the United States have said an internal review will be conducted into Abel’s death, even as investigations into the homicide case continue.
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