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Suspect Charged with Attempted Murder After Assaulting Grocery Store Employee

For Immediate Release: Sunday, January 22, 2017


Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – 1st District Investigative Section have charged James Lamont Odum, age 45, of Nancy Place in Gaithersburg, with attempted murder and attempted kidnapping after he assaulted an adult female grocery store employee in Gaithersburg.

On Saturday, January 21 at approximately 9:47 a.m., the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 9-1-1 call for the report of a robbery that had just occurred at the Food Express grocery store located at 16254 South Frederick Avenue.  Officers from the 1st District responded to the scene and spoke with the victim who stated that a regular customer, later identified as Odum, entered the store, purchased food, and then left the store.  A short time later Odum reentered the store and grabbed the victim from behind.  The victim told officers that Odum placed a knife to her side, and said that he was going to kill her and attempted to drag her out of the store.

The victim stated that during the struggle in the store, Odum grabbed her by the neck, began to strangle her, and then dragged her to the rear of the store.  At that point Odum threw her to the ground and said that he was going to kill her.  The victim told officers that Odum was about to stab her when a customer entered the store which caused Odum stop the assault on her and flee from the store with the knife.

Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the store and transported the victim to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Later on Saturday afternoon, officers located and arrested Odum at his residence.  He was transported to the Central Processing Unit where he was charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, attempted kidnapping, first-degree assault, and second degree assault.  Detectives anticipate additional charges to be placed against Odum after consulting with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.  Odum is currently being held without bond.  Odum will have a bond review tomorrow (January 23) at 1:00 p.m. in Rockville District Court.

RLG
James Lamont OdumJames Lamont Odum (Original Image)


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Release ID: 17-018
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: assault