Family and Friends Remember Atlanta Shooting Victims: ‘They Were Everything to Us’
Family and friends of the victims shared their fond memories.
A series of deadly shootings across an Atlanta suburb left three people dead and several families in grief as investigators work to understand why the attacks happened. Bullis, 40, Prianna Weathers, 31, and Tony Matthews, 48, were shot within hours of each other on April 13. The suspect, Olaolukitan Adon Abel, was arrested the day of the incident.
The family and friends of the victims shared their fond memories as they remain in disbelief on the tragedy that transpired.
Victims Remembered as Loving Parent, Public Servant, and Devoted Mother
The suspect in the brutal killing in Atlanta was found dead inside prison on April 21.
Bullis and Weathers died at the scene. Matthews was taken to a hospital, where he died on April 19. The suspect was arrested the same day as the shooting but died in jail on April 21. Officials said no foul play is suspected in his death.
Investigators have not found a clear link between the victims and the suspect. They are still looking into whether the attacks were random.
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The victims are being remembered for the lives they lived and the people they loved.
Matthews, a father of four, had recently welcomed a baby girl with his wife. He was also working to bring his three stepchildren from Uganda to the U.S.
“He was so happy,” his brother Michael Matthews said of the birth of his daughter. “It made him an even better person, and he was already a great person.”
Family members said Matthew was caring and always ready to help others. His sister-in-law said his young daughter was able to say goodbye before he died.
Bullis worked as an auditor for the Department of Homeland Security and was known for her strong work ethic. Colleagues described her as kind and encouraging.
“You couldn’t meet her and not be her friend,” her coworker Ashlet Toillion said.
Outside of work, Bullis loved to travel. Neighbors said she was often seen walking her dog or tending to her yard. “So outgoing and friendly,” neighbor Portia Powell said.
Because the victims were not connected to the suspect, the case has also raised legal and political questions. The suspect had past convictions, and officials are now debating how his background was handled. His public defender stressed the importance of a fair legal process, even in a case that has drawn strong public reaction.
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