Armed Robber Returns Phone, Wallet When Victim Prays for Him

An armed robber reportedly returned a victim’s wallet and cell phone after the victim prayed for him aloud.

A 21-year-old Shaquille Hairston was riding a bus home from work in Euclid, Ohio when a man followed him at his stop. The robber pulled out a gun and
demanded Hairston give him everything he had. When Hairston told the mugger that he did not have much money with him, the man struck him in the head with the gun.

Hairston gave the mugger his wallet and phone and began praying aloud for the gunman and his family. The robber then handed the stolen items back, apologizing and explaining that this was his first robbery; he had done it because he was unemployed.

Hairston invited the man to church and offered to help him in any way he could. The men shook hands before the robber left, Hairston promising to pray for him.
Hairston told reporters after the incident that he prayed, “Because even if that was gonna be my last night living, I wanted to go out knowing that God was with me and I had God on my mind and if I did go, I would be with him when I wake up on the other side.”

Police are now looking for the would-be mugger, but Hairston says he has forgiven him.

“My concern has been on him, and that God will touch his heart and tender his heart so he won’t even feel that he has to do that,” he said.

Carrie Dedrick