A Michigan man who splurged $20,000 on a gold chain after winning $30,000 in the lottery was attacked and robbed of the expensive piece of jewelry at a local gas station some days later.
According to WDIV, the incident occurred at a Mobil gas station on the west side of Detroit. And though the victim, who identifies himself as Jamal, is a familiar face at the establishment, that did not deter the determined thieves from forcefully and violently snatching the prized asset from his neck.
In an interview with the news outlet, the victim confirmed he had heard of incidents of people being robbed of their pieces of jewelry in the area and had taken precautions in order not to fall victim to the robbers.
“Yeah, it’s a thing [the robberies]. So I was just like, just looking around making sure nobody ain’t trying to get my chain but [they did],” Jamal, who also disclosed he had hit the lottery, said.
Per surveillance footage of the incident, Jamal is seen standing at the store’s counter as two men walk in. The men later leave the store and wait for Jamal outside. Surveillance footage of what transpired outside shows the suspects charging at Jamal after he walks out of the store. Despite trying to run back to the store after realizing he has been targeted, one of the suspects – a tall Black man in a tank top – grabs him before he enters and a tussle ensues at the store’s entrance. Jamal is subsequently punched and roughed up by the suspects before they tear the chain off his neck. The three men are later seen taking off in a car outside.
The owner of the gas station told the news outlet that this isn’t the first time the Black, tall, suspect in the black tank top has allegedly snatched a victim’s chain. Surveillance footage of an incident some months prior shows the same suspect walking around the store before later snatching another victim’s chain and fleeing.
Investigators believe the suspect stays around the neighborhood. They are also asking for leads that would assist with investigations.
