Brooklyn bishop robbed during sermon at gunpoint of more than $1 million in jewelry

A Brooklyn bishop and his wife were robbed by armed gunmen of jewelry worth roughly $1 million during the reverend's services this past weekend.

Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries Bishop Lamor M. Whitehead, 44, spoke at length in two Instagram posts about Sunday's robbery, which was caught on video. 

Whitehead described the three suspects as black men in masks who drove a white Mercedez-Benz. He said the men changed their clothing in the vehicle as they fled the scene. 

"The devil don’t care; he sent them," he said, also urging the robbers to surrender to police officers.

Whitehead also defended his and his wife's expensive choices of jewelry, which apparently drew the robbers' attention.

"It's not about me being flashy, it's about me purchasing what I want to purchase," he said.

Almost immediately before the suspects entered the church Sunday morning, Whitehead asked his congregation, "How many of you have lost your faith because you saw somebody else die?"

Whitehead laid down on stage as a gun was pointed at him and the suspects stole his watch, multiple chains, his wedding ring and his cross. His 38-year-old wife also had jewelry taken from her, The New York Times reported.

The bishop, who lost in the Democratic primary for Brooklyn borough president last year, is longtime friends with New York City Mayor Eric Adams. 

"No one in this city should be the victim of armed robbery, let alone our faith leaders and congregants worshiping in a House of God," Adams told The New York Daily News.