Suspect in murder of Odenton boxer Isaiah Olugbemi denied bond, confessed to shooting

BALTIMORE --  An Odenton man charged with killing his neighbor, an up-and-coming boxer, will be held without bond, an Anne Arundel County judge decided Thursday. 

Nicholas Francis Xavier Giroux, 36, is charged with first-and-second-degree murder in Isaiah Olugbemi's death. His preliminary hearing is set for July 17.

Confession

Olugbemi was found shot multiple times Monday night in the area of Meadowmist Way and Stehlik Drive in Odenton. He was rushed to Shock Trauma in Baltimore where he died.    

Detectives obtained video surveillance footage that showed a white male, later identified as Giroux, walking directly to Olugbemi with a handgun before shooting him multiple times and fleeing the scene on foot, according to court documents.

Police said they interviewed Giroux on June 18 and he confessed to the murder.

"Execution"

Abraham Olugbemi, the victim's brother, told WJZ Giroux was Isaiah Olugbemi's neighbor. He alleged Giroux threatened Isaiah Olugbemi at least two other times with a gun this year; once in January and a second time in June.

The prosecutor described the shooting as an "execution," and told the judge that Giroux fired six to 14 shots at Olugbemi, paused and then fired at least three more times.

 "A leader and was motivating"   

Olugbemi was a well-known boxer in the region and dreamed of competing professionally. He considered making that jump by the end of the year, according to the owner of the Anne Arundel County gym where Olugbemi primarily trained.

He was described by a friend from his boxing gym as a leader and a loving father.

The 27-year-old won the National Golden Gloves Championship in Washington D.C. in May and won another amateur fight last weekend.

"The last text I sent to him was right after he won the fight, and I was like, 'I'm so proud of you, you accomplished your dreams man, congratulations," Jim Hook said. 

Hook became good friends with Olugbemi at the gym where he trained three times a day. 

Hook said Olugbemi was a role model to the younger boxers.

"He really was a leader and was motivating and inspiring these younger kids that really look up to him," Hook said.

Hook told WJZ he proudly supported Olugbemi at all his fights, but he was most proud of watching him be a father to his young son who he would bring to the gym.

"He just loved that kid to death," Hook said. "Beaming with pride. You just saw the love come through when he would talk about his son, or if his son was there, just how they interacted."

Hook said Olugbemi had a special way of connecting with everyone, while he misses hearing his infectious laugh every day.

"I was very inspired by his work ethic and motivation and that sort of fuels a lot of people," Hook said. "And I know it's going to be tough but we want to keep his legacy alive in that regard as well."