Savages assault, rob and carjack Pastor Marvin Winans at westside gas station

Detroit Police seeking 4 black males wearing white tee-shirts and dark jeans

DETROIT (Tell Us Det) - Internationally known gospel singer and Detroit pastor Marvin Winans was assaulted, robbed and carjacked Wednesday afternoon at a CITGO station on the corner of Linwood and Davison on the city's west side.

The brazen attack happened in broad daylight Wednesday afternoon. The suspects, all African American males, fled with an unknown amount of cash along with the pastors' SUV, according to Detroit Police.

Winans, 54, told the media that he was followed by four or five young men from inside the gas station and they attacked him at the pumps while he gassed up his vehicle.

The robbers took his deep purple Infiniti QX56 SUV, a couple hundred dollars in cash and his watch.

Most gas stations in Detroit provide a haven for drug dealing, prostitution and carjacking. Thugs stand around like a pack of dogs waiting to prey upon their next victim.

A gas station clerk said the suspects beat Winans in the face, took his pants and wristwatch. He believes there is a group that comes into the gas station to hang out and rob patrons.

"We call police about 20 times a day," he said. "They (the suspects) come in and sell drugs."

Law enforcement has yet to crack down on station owners, who hide behind thick bullet proof glass and allow this activity to occur on their property.

"I'm just saddened that it has come to this," Winans said. “This kind of nonsense just has to stop," he said Wednesday afternoon. "It’s just the savageness of what’s happening in the streets. We just have to take a look at ourselves and say this has to stop,” said Pastor Winans.

He also believes his attackers didn't recognize him. Winans is pastor of the 4,500-member Perfecting Church on Detroit's east side. In February, he gave singer Whitney Houston's eulogy.

"And if they did, it didn't make much difference," said Winans, who has been active in civic issues, including taking a stand against the proliferation of strip clubs in Detroit's neighborhoods.