The events surrounding the death of Marcus Prince unfolded during the extended Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2016, stemming from a violent encounter on the city’s east side. On the night of Wednesday, November 23, the 38-year-old Black male from Detroit was at a gas station located on East State Fair Avenue, a short distance from his residence on Russell Street. Around 10:30 p.m., what began as a routine stop turned into a life-threatening confrontation when he was targeted in an armed carjacking and robbery.
According to reports from the Detroit Police Department, two individuals approached the vehicle, a blue Jeep Cherokee, and initiated an ambush. The assailants, described as males in their 20s, launched a physical and armed assault on the occupants. During the struggle, Prince sustained a gunshot wound, leaving him in critical condition, while another man present at the scene was physically beaten. The perpetrators seized control of the Jeep and fled the area, leaving the victims behind. Prince was rushed to a local hospital, where he fought for his life for several days before succumbing to his injuries on Sunday, November 27, 2016.
Homicide investigators took over the case following his death and released surveillance footage from the gas station in an effort to identify the gunmen. The police described the first suspect as standing approximately 6 feet tall with a medium to dark complexion, while the second suspect was described as being around 5 feet 7 inches tall with a similar complexion and a scraggly beard. Authorities appealed to the public for information regarding the stolen vehicle and the identity of the attackers. At the time of the initial reports following his death, the suspects remained at large, and no immediate arrests were announced in connection with the slaying.
