DETROIT — A 21-year-old Yemeni American was beaten to death Thursday morning at a Sunoco gas station on Detroit’s southwest side.

Maher Almaweri’s family told local television news stations a group of men beat him to death at the gas station located at McGraw and Tarnow Roads.

EMS arrived at the scene around 1 a.m. and transported him to Henry Ford Hospital. Police said he died of his injuries at the hospital.

Almaweri’s family said he was at the gas station buying an overseas phone card to call his father.

They told news agencies they just want justice for his untimely death and that they wonder if the attack was racially motivated.

Family spokesman Marwan Mawiri said Almaweri had a bright future.

Almaweri was a student and was engaged to be married.

Witnesses told family members that a bystander  attempted to stop the beating by shooting a firearm into the air to scare off the attackers, but at that point it was too late.

Family spokesman Marwan Mawiri said Almaweri had a bright future ahead and had just come to America.

“He was looking forward to getting married,” Mawiri said.

No funeral arrangements have been made while his family is scrambling to arrive from out of state. Almaweri’s mother is coming in from California.

Detroit police are investigating.