DPD Chief: 'no quality of life when you can't pump gas'

Around 4:00 a.m., Michigan State Police pulled the three over during a traffic stop and took them into custody. 

Whitfield's mom said the fact that the three are in custody is some comfort.

"It breaks my heart because they don't know what they took from me," Tanya Whitfield said Tuesday. "Something has to be done about crimes on innocent people." 

Despite Tuesday morning's violent murder, Chief James Craig said overall, crime is going down. He stresses that there is still plenty of work to do. So much, in fact, that he admits that he'd be unsure about pumping gas in the middle of the night in Detroit.

"I wouldn't but if I had to I would but I would be very aware of my surroundings there's no quality of life when you can't pump gas," James said.

Chief Craig says he and his officers will continue to crack down on crime that takes place at gas stations and other areas in the city and he sends this warning to anyone looking to commit a crime in Detroit.

"We will relentlessly follow up and find you and arrest you. The message is not here, not in Detroit, not anymore," James said.

The family has set up a GoFundMe to pay for funeral costs. CLICK HERE to donate.