A Missouri police officer said God warned him about a coming ambush just in time to save his life.
The officer gave an interview with News Channel 5 detailing the attack, but asked that his identity be hidden to protect his family.
The officer was working his side security job after finishing a shift for the St. Louis Police Department. Doing rounds in the July heat led him to take off his bullet proof vest to cool down.
He had just finished his various security checks when he saw a group of people walking down the street.
“They were just walking,” the officer told News Channel 5. “There was nothing particular about them but the hairs on my neck stood up. And at that point there was a voice that told me grab my vest. I know it was God.”
Four suspects opened fire on the officer, peppering his car with bullets and hitting the officer’s vest. The officer returned fire, never leaving his car.
Police Chief Sam Dotson said the vest saved the officer’s life.
The officer said he began praying for “the peace of mind to stay alive” for his family, and that his “prayers were answered.”
He says he was targeted because of his police uniform, and that the attack was an ambush. Pictures of his vehicle show his car windshield riddled with bullet holes.
“I know it sounds funny, but I’m glad that I stood in the gap of someone else not being a victim of these individuals wanting to cause crime in the neighborhood,” the officer told News Channel 5. “I’m glad I was there to stop them from doing that and make an arrest on these guys before they hurt anybody else.”
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