Fatal Shooting Vigil Remembers Odenton Father, Boxer As 'Goofball' With 'Infectious Smile'

ODENTON, MD — Isaiah Olugbemi wore many hats: confidant, jokester, worshiper. The 27-year-old Odenton man was fatally shot last week, ending his boxing career just before he went professional and leaving his 2-year-old son without a father.

Over 100 of Olugbemi's family and friends honored his life Thursday with a candlelight vigil the evening before his funeral. They shared stories remembering him as a promising boxer, a reliable comrade and a welcoming soul.

Mourners agreed that Olugbemi's dance moves were the life of the party and that he loved light-hearted debates about everything from shoelaces to shelves.

Dedication, Friendliness

Olugbemi had only boxed for three years before winning possibly the nation's most prestigious amateur tournament. He traveled to Detroit in mid-May, where he won five straight bouts to claim the Golden Gloves of America crown in the 203-pound class.

Coaches stressed how "unheard of" the national victory was for the relatively new boxer, nicknamed Mr. Big Fella. The Golden Gloves title was likely one of Olugbemi's final amateur matches before going pro, as professional promoters had already contacted him.

"It just shows how dedicated he was, coming in twice a day," Christen Jeter, owner of the Odenton Fitness gym where Olugbemi trained, told Patch. "It's really unprecedented how quickly he rose to winning a national championship."

Jeter recalled his "infectious smile." The gym's youth program kids looked up to Olugbemi, and they glowed excitedly when he called them "Champ."

Bryson McAdams felt that same love when he moved from Tenessee to Odenton years ago. Olugbemi greeted the new kid in town with open arms, sparking a brotherly bond.

"His family was my family. His household was my household. His clothes were my clothes," McAdams said at the vigil.

The vigil was held on the football field at Gambrills-Odenton Recreation Council Park, where Olugbemi once played as a child.

Grievers wore custom T-shirts with Olugbemi's photos on them. Some read "Good Nite Champ" on the back.

Marquis Jackson, another childhood friend of Olugbemi and McAdams, said the squad was inseparable.

"Every day was an adventure with him," Jackson said. "I wish I could tell him how much he means to me. I wish I could tell him how much I'm sorry. And I wish I could tell him how much I wish he was standing with me and Bryson right here, right now. He loved everybody, and we loved him."

The Shooting

Olugbemi was fatally shot on June 17 in the 500 block of Meadowmist Way. That's located in the Lions Gate neighborhood.

Police confirmed that the suspect lived in the same community as Olugbemi. The two had a conflict dating back to at least June 1, officers said. The shooting wasn't the first time the conflict escalated.

"The police had been called prior to this incident," Anne Arundel County Police Department spokesperson Justin Mulcahy told Patch in a Friday email. "The specifics are linked to this homicide investigation and we are not releasing those details at this time."

Officers announced on June 18 that they arrested 36-year-old Nicholas Francis Xavier Giroux of Odenton in the case.

Authorities said Giroux was charged with first-degree murder and second-degree murder.

Giroux confessed to shooting Olugbemi multiple times and led police to the 9-mm handgun he used, charging documents obtained by Patch said.

Not Enough Time

Diondre Wallace knew Olugbemi since sixth grade when they shared a homeroom and a science class at Arundel Middle School. Wallace later played football and wrestled with that "goofball" at Arundel High School, where Olugbemi also threw the shot put on the track and field team.

Wallace attended Towson University on a football scholarship with aspirations of playing linebacker in the NFL. He was drafted in 2022 by the New Orleans Breakers of the former United States Football League.

That was the last stop in Wallace's professional career. Wallace lost several friends when he didn't make the NFL, but Olugbemi's loyalty never wavered.

"He was the dude that I could call on when I was going through the worst things," Wallace said. "He was still there."

Olugbemi turned to high school friend Aleia Commodore for advice when he learned he would become a father. The duo was known for spur-of-the-moment drives around the neighborhood and to the park.

"Time is something that we take for granted," Commodore said. "The night before, I thought about him and I thought about calling him, but I didn't. And if I could just get one more day just to be around him and his energy and just hug him and laugh with him, just goof around with him and dance with him and talk to him I would."

Olugbemi's uncle, Tim Shadare, will take comfort in remembering "That light" and "That smile."

Shadare was one of several parishioners from Hyattsville's Christ Apostolic Church in attendance, where Olugbemi doled out hugs after Sunday mass. Together, they praised God and sang hymns before the vigil. They urged attendees to hug their loved ones before it's too late.

"Please give them their flowers while they're alive," Shadare said. "Tomorrow is not promised. I thought my baby brother was going to be a champion. I was going to carry him. We were going to dance around in church. We're talking about him in past tense right now."

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