Family Mourns ‘Senseless’ Killing Of Michigan Pastor Who Was Struck By Illegal Immigrant

A father, grandfather, and Michigan pastor died from his injuries after he was struck by a vehicle driven by an illegal immigrant earlier this month, and now his family is speaking out about the “senseless” killing.

Stephen Singleton, 72, was on one of his routine morning walks in Rochester Hills, Michigan, on November 3 when he was hit while crossing the street, ABC 7 reported. According to investigators, Singleton was wearing a reflective vest and was using the marked crosswalk when he was hit. Authorities do not believe speed or alcohol played a role in the deadly crash. One witness told ABC 7 that the driver ran a red light before hitting Singleton.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said the driver of the vehicle is an illegal immigrant from Colombia. Michigan state law allows non-citizens to drive in the state as long as they have a foreign driver’s license that “is printed in English or accompanied with an English translation.”

According to Singleton’s family, the illegal immigrant suspect was released from custody after the crash.

“I had to sit and watch my husband of 53 years die in front of me and then to know that the person who did this is walking around is very difficult to deal with,” Singleton’s wife, Teri, said, according to Fox 2.

“He’s dead and they’re walking around. That’s bothering me,” Teri added.

???? Oakland County, MI: Earlier this month, Stephen Singleton, a 72-year-old Detroit-area pastor, was struck and killed crossing the street on a crosswalk while wearing a reflective vest.

From @wxyzdetroit: "The…Sheriff's Office says the driver is a citizen of Colombia who was… pic.twitter.com/TIaEdOB1Bp

— Illegal Alien Crimes (@ImmigrantCrimes) November 21, 2024

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to a Daily Wire request for comment.

Customs and Border Protection said that the suspect crossed into the U.S. illegally before being released into the country pending a future court date.

Singleton’s family said the 72-year-old Michigan man was a dedicated servant and a former medic. He also volunteered his service at Ground Zero after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

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“I started tearing because I couldn’t find survivors,” Singleton said during a 2022 interview about looking for survivors after the 9/11 attacks. “We would find people who were perished, but we couldn’t find survivors.”

Singleton’s daughter Ruth told ABC 7, “One day, I wake up and just know he’s gone for such a simple and senseless thing. I just don’t understand.”

“He was a loving person who cared about everybody,” said Teri. “I mean, the whole neighborhood, everybody in our community has come to my door. They didn’t even see the name on the report, but they knew him because of his habits.”