Nigerian family petitions US govt, Maryland Gov, others demand justice, others over death of promising boxing champ

The family of a United States Boxing Champion and junior Olympic gold medalist, Isaiah Olugbemi, has petitioned the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the Governor of Maryland, Wes Moore, among others, to demand for justice over the murder of their son.

In a petition on change.org (https://change.org/JusticeforIsaiaholugbemi), the family said Isaiah was ambushed by Nicholas Giroux, his neighbor, who laid in wait outside his home and callously shot him multiple times.

The family noted: “In honor of Isaiah, we are calling on the authorities (the Anne Arundel County Police Department, Maryland State Government, U.S. Department of Justice, US House of Representatives and the US Senate, to expedite the investigation and ensure that the perpetrator is brought to justice. We want the system to change so that not only do we get justice but also ensure that no other person suffers this fate.”

In the petition started by Wale Oparinde, the in-law to the deceased, the family said “Isaiah Olugbemi, our beloved son, brother, father, and friend, aged just 27, was brutally and needlessly murdered on June 17th in Odenton, Maryland, USA.

He added that the deceased was a promising young boxer, noting that he was a Junior Olympics gold medalist, a three-time Golden Gloves state boxing champion and a two-time Open Regional champion.

According to him, “Isaiah was ambushed by Nicholas Giroux, his neighbor, who laid in wait outside his home and callously shot him multiple times. He succumbed to his fatal injuries, leaving behind a 2-year-old son—the same child with whom he had celebrated Father’s Day just one day prior. This grievous incident has not only robbed a family of a loving father and son but also stolen a promising talent from the world of boxing. This heinous act of violence has left Isaiah’s young son fatherless and our family shattered.

Court documents showed that the police obtained surveillance footage showing a white male confronting Olugbemi with a handgun before shooting him multiple times and fleeing the scene on foot.

“Sadly, Isaiah’s story is a gripping tragedy of the rampant gun violence in the United States. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been over 43,000 incidents of gun violence in the US in 2020 alone, leading to numerous deaths, destroying countless families.

“As we mourn Isaiah’s untimely departure, we also seek justice and support for his grieving family. We must stand against such brazen acts of violence. We demand that Nicholas Giroux be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for his premeditated and senseless act of violence. We owe it to Isaiah, and to the innumerable others who have lost their lives to gun violence, to fight for justice and a safer society.

“Isaiah Olugbemi’s life was full of promise, and his legacy deserves to be honored with justice and action. By signing this petition, you are standing with Isaiah’s family and community in demanding accountability and systemic change to request for stricter gun control measures and prevent such tragedies in the future.”