YpsiPistolWhipping.jpg

(Courtesy of Ypsilanti police)

Ypsilanti police on Thursday released images of four male suspects wanted for attempted carjacking and robbery.

The four suspects followed an Eastern Michigan University student from a downtown Ypsilanti restaurant where the images were captured to where the student's car was parked a few blocks away in the 700 block of Congress Street near Summit, according to Ypsilanti police Detective Sgt. Thomas Eberts. Police were not releasing the name of the restaurant.

The student got into his vehicle, which was soon surrounded by the four suspects, Eberts said.

The four suspects attempted to carjack the student, but were thwarted because the street was too icy and they couldn't get the car moving, Eberts said. The student fled through backyards in the neighborhood, only to be caught by the suspects, who pistol-whipped him and stole his wallet.

The four men were last seen fleeing the scene on foot in an unknown direction. The student was treated and released at the scene for minor injuries, according to police.

Police were dispatched to Congress for the incident at 9:13 p.m.

The student told police two of the men were armed with semi-automatic handguns.

The suspect who allegedly hit the student was described as a black male, late teens to early 20s, wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, armed with a handgun. The second suspect with a gun was described as a black male, late teens to early 20s, wearing a red and black jacket with the letter “R” on the chest.

The other suspects were described as a black male, late teens to early 20s, wearing all dark clothing and a white male, late teens to early 20s, wearing all dark clothing.

If you have any additional information regarding this case please contact Detective Sergeant Tom Eberts at 734-482-9878 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP (773-2587).

John Counts covers crime and breaking news for The Ann Arbor News. He can be reached at johncounts@mlive.com or you can follow him on Twitter. Find all Washtenaw County crime stories here.