Pastor Marvin Winans Carjacked And Assaulted At Detroit Gas Station: 'I'm Just Saddened That It Has Come To This'

A popular Detroit pastor, preacher and singer, Marvin Winans, was assaulted and had his car stolen on Wednesday afternoon after he stopped at a gas station on the city's west side.

At approximately 3:20 p.m., several men approached Winans while he was pumping gas a Detroit Citgo station on the corner of Linwood and Davison. The young men began punching and kicking the famous gospel singer, reported WXYZ. The carjackers took his purple Infiniti QX56 SUV, about $200 in cash and his $15,000 gold-and-diamond-encrusted Rolex watch.

Winans said he did not believe he was seriously injured, reported the Associated Press. He does not believe his attackers knew who he was.

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.

Winans said he saw about 10 individuals in the gas station's convenience store. As he left, he said he felt something was wrong. Several men followed him outside. A young man approached him and engaged him in conversation about the music he had on the radio, said Detroit Police Inspector Nick Kyriacou, reported WZZM.

The young man told Winans that gas was spilling out of his tank. The pastor looked as his SUV and the young muan punched him and pushed down. Then, three or four other men began assaulting him.

Somebody said, 'Roll him over,' and they got his wallet, Kyriacou said.

He went to the hospital Wednesday night to have his head examined, reported WXYZ. He left leave the hospital with his left hand bandaged.

Given the gravity of the situation, it was minor, said Winans of the minor injuries. Doctors ordered his finger to remain bandaged for about eight weeks.

Winans described one of his attackers as 5-foot-4 and in his late teens, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans.

I am shocked, but I'm not shocked that something like this happened at this location, said the Rev. James Garrett, pastor of Christ Temple Apostolic Faith Church in southwest Detroit. Garrett, 67, lives near the crime scene and drove to the location after he heard about the incident, reported WZZM.

Winans said he was particularly disturbed that this incident happened in the middle of the afternoon and nobody came to help, reported WXYZ.

Your life has to be bigger than sitting in a gas station and robbing innocent people, Winans said in a message to his carjackers during the interview with WXYZ.

Winans is one of the most popular gospel singers today and his newest song, Let the Church Say Amen, is listed on Billboard.com. He is the pastor of Perfecting Church that has over 3,000 members. He gained national attention after he gave the eulogy at Whitney Houston's funeral.