Man tried to rape 2 women at separate stores in Kannapolis, police say

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — A man has been charged after trying to rape two women at separate stores in Kannapolis on Friday evening, police said.

Officers were called around 6 p.m. to a Dollar General store on Cannon Boulevard after an employee reported that she was grabbed by a man. The woman said she was able to fight back and got away.

The man, later identified as Omar Elijah Boyd, 18, left the store.

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The victim told Channel 9′s Glenn Counts that Boyd kept his eye on her and followed her around the store. That made her uncomfortable, so she said she came to the front of the store and he left. She then went to the back of the store, thinking the man had gone, but he attacked her from behind.

“So I backed up to the door to open it, I felt someone grab me by my neck and cover my mouth. I went limp. Thank God I done that because he dropped me,” she said.

About an hour later, as police were looking for Boyd, they responded to a Family Dollar store on Cannon Boulevard after an employee reported she had been assaulted. She said Boyd walked into the restroom she was in and started attacking her.

According to police, that woman was also able to fight back and get away.

Boyd then left the store but employees ran after him and were able to detain him in the store’s parking lot until officers got there.

“He basically tried to rape her, but I guess since she had a belt on he couldn’t get her pants down. So, as she was fighting him off, he basically said he’s leaving, he’s leaving,” assistant manager Tiffany Rivera said. “That’s a friend of mine, so you’re not going to do that to her and think you’re going to get away with it, because that’s just disgusting.”

Omar Elijah Boyd Omar Elijah Boyd (WSOC)

Boyd was charged with first-degree kidnapping and two charges of attempted second-degree forcible rape. He is being held at Cabarrus County Jail.

“The past couple of nights have been kind of hard. I have nightmares,” one survivor said. “I see his eyes and I can’t. My boyfriend can’t hug me the way he used to because it scares me.”

Boyd appeared in court for the first time Monday where he received a court-appointed attorney and his next court date was scheduled for Dec. 6. His $175,000 bond remained the same.

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