10 hours ago

DETROIT — Popular Detroit pastor and gospel singer Marvin Winans was assaulted and carjacked Wednesday afternoon at a gas station on the city's west side.

The attack happened about 3:20 p.m., and the suspects fled with an unknown amount of cash and Winans' SUV, police said.

Winans, 54, told WXYZ-TV that four or five young men followed him from inside the gas station and attacked him while he gassed up his vehicle.

Winans said he didn't believe he was seriously hurt, but planned to seek medical attention.

He said his attackers appeared to be among 10 young men he passed by inside the station, and he warily watched them as he pumped gas.

"I'm just saddened that it has come to this," Winans said. "This kind of nonsense just has to stop. It's just the savageness of what's happening in the street."

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.

Dang. A preacher can't even pump gas without getting a beat down in these streets today. Between this and all the crime/abuse stories I've been seeing in GD, you can't tell me we ain't in end times. This world is a mess.

He's lucky he's alive. The world has always been a mess. I have read stuff on true crime sites from the 30s and 40s that make today's world look like a cakewalk.

I wonder if some of the same people who attacked him also attacked Aretha Franklin's son...

Timmy84 said:

I wonder if some of the same people who attacked him also attacked Aretha Franklin's son...

I doubt it. They said it was 10 young guys inside the gas station when he went in to pay for his gas and 4 of them followed him out and jacked him. For the life of me I dont know why he went in with his $40,000 Rolly on! I live in that area and I dont take my purse, I put it on the back seat floor and throw something on top of it. They are offering a $2000 award for the arrest, cause if I find out who was involved I'M TELLING!!!!!

Yes I am a snitch, if the price is right

Poor guy. It's been said that the heart of man is inherently dark and wicked--now it's time for action. Hire a security detail or carry dart-firing stun guns, Rev.

Identity said:

Poor guy. It's been said that the heart of man is inherently dark and wicked--now it's time for action. Hire a security detail or carry dart-firing stun guns, Rev.

I usually look around to be aware of my surroundings when I pump gas, but now I feel like I've really got to be wide eyed and have my club in the backseat for easy access in case I need it for defense.

I was waiting for the footage from the security cameras at the gas station but interestingly enough, that particular gas station of all the gas stations in Detroit that do, didn't have any. Not a one.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

I was waiting for the footage from the security cameras at the gas station but interestingly enough, that particular gas station of all the gas stations in Detroit that do, didn't have any. Not a one.

How typical. So if we were dealing with a homicide instead of just a carjacking assault, then basically there wouldn't had been any spot on physical evidence. Great.

The news just reported that the guys came back to the gas station this morning bragging about it. It seems to me that the police should take the clerk down to the station and they do a composite drawing of the guys! Is it me or is that just to easy and simple for the men in blue?

debbiedean2 said:

The news just reported that the guys came back to the gas station this morning bragging about it. It seems to me that the police should take the clerk down to the station and they do a composite drawing of the guys! Is it me or is that just to easy and simple for the men in blue?

The whole story sounds just a little too damn simple to me.

debbiedean2 said:

I doubt it. They said it was 10 young guys inside the gas station when he went in to pay for his gas and 4 of them followed him out and jacked him. For the life of me I dont know why he went in with his $40,000 Rolly on! I live in that area and I dont take my purse, I put it on the back seat floor and throw something on top of it. They are offering a $2000 award for the arrest, cause if I find out who was involved I'M TELLING!!!!!

I was doing some volunteer work in that area a few weeks ago. I don't really know the area but I know it's reputation. I got lost trying to find the place. I was scared to death the entire time!!!! And I didn't dare stop anywhere around there to ask for directions. I just kept driving until I found it. Why on earth Winans chose to stop in the area for gas with a $40,000 rolex watch on is beyond me! He even said they ripped his pants right off of him!

kitbradley said:

debbiedean2 said:

I was doing some volunteer work in that area a few weeks ago. I don't really know the area but I know it's reputation. I got lost trying to find the place. I was scared to death the entire time!!!! And I didn't dare stop anywhere around there to ask for directions. I just kept driving until I found it. Why on earth Winans chose to stop in the area for gas with a $40,000 rolex watch on is beyond me! He even said they ripped his pants right off of him!

Well, I guess he felt it was safe. You know they grew up around 7 mile/Mumford high school area which not to far from where he was jacked. Did you check out the price of gas at that station? It was $3.57 which is cheap and he's driving a truck! Fill up for cheap

Two young thugs assailants involved in the robbery were arrested this afternoon, according to the police.

I don't understand what a preacher is doing with a $40,000 watch in the first place. I guess if he is tending a flock that rolls like that it makes some kind of twisted sense. But still it seems like such a contradiction to have that much earthly wealth on the arm of one man of God. All ten of those men he watched "warily" (reporter) for their "savageness" (MW) were watching too. What did they see? Perhaps they felt a different kind of "nonsense" was on display.

Unfortunately I've seen a few Christians say the person who did this should watch their backs cause God will strike.

Didn't Marvin Winans have a music career and write some of the songs his siblings recorded? I don't care what he had on, what type of watch he was wearing, these types of assualtes happen to people who have much less.

TD3 said:

Didn't Marvin Winans have a music career and write some of the songs his siblings recorded? I don't care what he had on, what type of watch he was wearing, these types of assualtes happen to people who have much less.

Yeah, but, in certain areas, you just have to use common sense. I know a woman who was jacked of her fur coat and jewelry walking out of her front door a few weeks ago. I mean, it literally happened on her front porch. I don't know what it is, I think it's a combination of hard economic times and the very warm winter we had, but crime in Detroit has been way up this year.

allsmutaside said:

I don't understand what a preacher is doing with a $40,000 watch in the first place. I guess if he is tending a flock that rolls like that it makes some kind of twisted sense. But still it seems like such a contradiction to have that much earthly wealth on the arm of one man of God. All ten of those men he watched "warily" (reporter) for their "savageness" (MW) were watching too. What did they see? Perhaps they felt a different kind of "nonsense" was on display.

Marvin Winans has had a very successful career as a Grammy winning songwriter in Gospel music for his siblings as well as for other top selling artists. Before becoming a pastor, he was also a gospel artist himself and was part of the Grammy award winning group The Winans. His publishing/royalties in the music industry have made him financially comfortable long before becoming a man of the cloth, and I don't see anything wrong him wanting to wear an expensive watch that he has worked and paid for with money he has earned from a successful music career.

Ottensen said:

allsmutaside said:

I don't understand what a preacher is doing with a $40,000 watch in the first place. I guess if he is tending a flock that rolls like that it makes some kind of twisted sense. But still it seems like such a contradiction to have that much earthly wealth on the arm of one man of God. All ten of those men he watched "warily" (reporter) for their "savageness" (MW) were watching too. What did they see? Perhaps they felt a different kind of "nonsense" was on display.

Marvin Winans has had a very successful career as a Grammy winning songwriter in Gospel music for his siblings as well as for other top selling artists. Before becoming a pastor, he was also a gospel artist himself and was part of the Grammy award winning group The Winans. His publishing/royalties in the music industry have made him financially comfortable long before becoming a man of the cloth, and I don't see anything wrong him wanting to wear an expensive watch that he has worked and paid for with money he has earned from a successful music career.

Exactly. Unfortunately, some people have a mentality of if you have it and I want it, I'm going to take it.

Ottensen said:

allsmutaside said:

I don't understand what a preacher is doing with a $40,000 watch in the first place. I guess if he is tending a flock that rolls like that it makes some kind of twisted sense. But still it seems like such a contradiction to have that much earthly wealth on the arm of one man of God. All ten of those men he watched "warily" (reporter) for their "savageness" (MW) were watching too. What did they see? Perhaps they felt a different kind of "nonsense" was on display.

Marvin Winans has had a very successful career as a Grammy winning songwriter in Gospel music for his siblings as well as for other top selling artists. Before becoming a pastor, he was also a gospel artist himself and was part of the Grammy award winning group The Winans. His publishing/royalties in the music industry have made him financially comfortable long before becoming a man of the cloth, and I don't see anything wrong him wanting to wear an expensive watch that he has worked and paid for with money he has earned from a successful music career.

I appreciate your perspective, but I don't really care where or how he earned his money so much.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

His vocabulary defines his antagonists as other, less than, unworthy...and it is quite possible that this was clear when he walked through that station. This moment is larger than itself, it turns inward to speak to us all and say that there are people from all quarters "saddended" by this "nonsense" and "savageness."

Ottensen said:

Dang. A preacher can't even pump gas without getting a beat down in these streets today. Between this and all the crime/abuse stories I've been seeing in GD, you can't tell me we ain't in end times. This world is a mess.

Every day its something horrible and senseless. I'm wondering how 10 dudes can go into a gas station together and not have everybody on edge.

On a side note...Detroit always been a hot mess.

Ottensen said:

Dang. A preacher can't even pump gas without getting a beat down in these streets today. Between this and all the crime/abuse stories I've been seeing in GD, you can't tell me we ain't in end times. This world is a mess.

It's always been like this, even worse during some parts of history. It's not that bad.

smoothcriminal12 said:

Ottensen said:

Dang. A preacher can't even pump gas without getting a beat down in these streets today. Between this and all the crime/abuse stories I've been seeing in GD, you can't tell me we ain't in end times. This world is a mess.

It's always been like this, even worse during some parts of history. It's not that bad.

Yeah this case is not as shocking as it may seem.

Timmy84 said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

It's always been like this, even worse during some parts of history. It's not that bad.

Yeah this case is not as shocking as it may seem.

I get confused when peeps say we are in the end times. It's not as bad as it was during the World Wars, Holocaust, 9/11, or any extreme period of turmoil. What makes now so bad?

smoothcriminal12 said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah this case is not as shocking as it may seem.

I get confused when peeps say we are in the end times. It's not as bad as it was during the World Wars, Holocaust, 9/11, or any extreme period of turmoil. What makes now so bad?

I don't know... I usually shake my head and get some worrywarting in my stomach whenever I see that shit... because to be honest, when you're born, the world is in chaos every day...

[Edited 5/18/12 14:35pm]

Timmy84 said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

I get confused when peeps say we are in the end times. It's not as bad as it was during the World Wars, Holocaust, 9/11, or any extreme period of turmoil. What makes now so bad?

I don't know... I usually shake my head and get some worrywarting in my stomach whenever I see that shit... because to be honest, when you're born, the world is in chaos every day...

[Edited 5/18/12 14:35pm]

There are just so many people on this planet right now. Resources are becoming so slim; or at leaset they seem to be. And access to news from around the world is so easy peasy.

allsmutaside said:

Timmy84 said:

I don't know... I usually shake my head and get some worrywarting in my stomach whenever I see that shit... because to be honest, when you're born, the world is in chaos every day...

[Edited 5/18/12 14:35pm]

There are just so many people on this planet right now. Resources are becoming so slim; or at leaset they seem to be. And access to news from around the world is so easy peasy.

I guess those are the only differences but other than that, it's like "same shit different day".

Timmy84 said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

I get confused when peeps say we are in the end times. It's not as bad as it was during the World Wars, Holocaust, 9/11, or any extreme period of turmoil. What makes now so bad?

I don't know... I usually shake my head and get some worrywarting in my stomach whenever I see that shit... because to be honest, when you're born, the world is in chaos every day...

[Edited 5/18/12 14:35pm]

Right.