Man Claims MD Grocery Store Robbery Was Antisemitic Attack: Police

GAITHERSBURG, MD — A Washington, D.C., man is facing charges after Montgomery County police said he and a group of others robbed and assaulted a man in what the victim claimed was an antisemitic attack.

Montgomery County police said officers were called to the Giant Food store in the 18200 block of Flower Hill Way in Gaithersburg on Wednesday, where they arrested Eugene Thompson, 30, and later charged him with strong-armed robbery and first-degree assault.

According to police, the victim — who was not identified — told investigators he was shopping inside the grocery store when he saw Thompson and a group of male suspects "acting disorderly."

Police said the man approached the group and asked them to stop. According to authorities, the group then surrounded him, and Thompson began making antisemitic comments to the victim.

Police said Thompson then assaulted the victim, to the point of him losing consciousness. Thompson and the other suspects left the store after taking the victim's keys, according to authorities.

The victim was taken to the hospital with serious injuries that are not life threatening, police said.

Officers later found and apprehended Thompson at a McDonald's in the 18200 block of Flower Hill Way, police said, adding authorities discovered the victim's keys on Thompson.

Thompson was taken to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit. He is being held without bond.