Father of young mother killed in double murder at Detroit gas station wants violence to end

‘This has happened to many families, and now it’s happened to me.’

DETROIT – Local 4 spoke to the father of a young mother who was ambushed and murdered alongside her boyfriend while sitting in a car at a Detroit gas station.

Police have made two arrests in connection with the murder of Marshae Nash, 21, and her boyfriend, Benson Lindsey, 22. The couple was ambushed around 8:30 p.m. Monday (Oct. 18) at the Marathon gas station on West Warren Avenue near the Southfield Freeway on Detroit’s west side, according to authorities.

Two people were taken into custody after 3 p.m. Wednesday, and a weapon was recovered, Detroit police said.

“This has happened to many families, and now it’s happened to me,” said Greg Johns-Nash, Nash’s father.

Detroit police released video that shows two men ambushing the couple, who were sitting inside a car at a gas pump.

“I did watch the video,” Johns-Nash said.

His daughter had two children. The couple’s 9-month-old boy, Braylon, was in Nash’s arms when the gunmen fired shots, police said.

Detroit police seek 2 shooters seen shooting, killing couple at gas station

“Do you think about Braylon and how he wasn’t hit?” Local 4′s Shawn Ley asked.

“It’s a miracle,” Johns-Nash said. “We are going to take care of him like nothing before.”

Police said the couple had their second child one month ago: a daughter who was born prematurely and is still in the hospital.

Lindsey’s mother, Candace Lindsey, told the community that the gunmen took away her only son and left his children without parents.

“They took everything I had,” she said. “My son -- my only baby God allowed me to have.”

Johns-Nash said Detroit has a disease: illegal guns and young people using them for the smallest of reasons.

Supporting his point: The 36th District Court’s backlog of illegal gun cases has reached 2,500, according to records.

Johns-Nash said he wants to be part of the cure.

“I pray that somebody, even if it’s me, (has) the strength to save our city,” Johns-Nash said. “You know what I mean? Just to stop the crime.

“The adults, the grown people -- we need to step it up. We need to step it up. My child is not the only child. A lot of us are going through this every day -- every day.”

WATCH MORE: Search for suspects continues after double murder on Detroit’s east side


About the Authors:

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.