Was a potential mass murder at a McDonald’s restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas averted because of a mother’s prayer?

I will let you decide.

24-year-old Jestin Anthony Joseph called his mother saying he was hearing voices. He said that people were trying to kill him and Jestin told his mom he was going to die tonight.

His desperate mother did the only thing she could do for her distraught son — she and friends began to pray for her son. She also contacted the police saying she feared her son was suicidal.

A few hours later, Jestin walked into the McDonald’s restaurant with a semi-automatic handgun. What followed is recorded on the store’s videos.

Justin demanded that everyone hand over their money. But while over at a water machine he began talking to himself and suddenly turns and fires his gun at people in the restaurant.

There is just a click. The gun misfired.

Jestin runs outside the restaurant and fires the gun successfully in the air. He returns to the restaurant and fires at the fleeing people.

Again nothing happens. The gun misfires one more time.

Then Jestin goes outside the restaurant a second time and successfully fires the gun twice at a passing car. The police have no idea if the car was hit or anyone was hurt, as the car just continued on.

But instead of returning to the restaurant, Jestin flees down a nearby service road and eventually tosses his gun.

In an interview, Sgt. Joe Lougham of the Fort Worth police said, “I’ve never seen anything like that before, it must have not been their time to go.”

The police arrested Jestin a short time later.

Interviewed after the event, his mother who wished to go unnamed said, “Last night I told God to keep Jestin, and that’s what I do believe happened.” She said the gun misfired “because we were praying.”  She added she wasn’t even aware her son had a gun.

God loves Jestin

What struck me is that God loves Jestin. God answered his mother’s prayer and saved Jestin from making a huge mistake. God not only saved the lives of the people in McDonald, but probably Jestin’s as well.

My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies. (2 Samuel 22:3-4 NASV)

Read more:

• Gun misfires, prevents possible mass shooting at Fort Worth McDonald’s: Star-Telegram
• Did Divine intervention prevent McDonald’s massacre?: WND