"The Message" New Testament in Bus Driver's Pocket, Stops Bullets, Saves His Life during Attack

Aimee Herd : Feb 24, 2014
Clint Davis, Christina Corbin – Dayton Daily News, Fox News

"The two bullets were stopped by the New Testament book in his chest pocket." Sgt. Michael Pauley, Dayton Police

(Dayton, OH)—Divine "Intervention" are the words Dayton, Ohio police are using to describe the way a bus driver's life was saved early Monday morning.

Forty-nine-year-old Rickey Wagoner, of Trotwood, an RTA bus driver had gotten out of his vehicle to try to fix a mechanical issue, when he was suddenly assaulted by three men, according to the report.

There were reportedly three shots fired at Wagoner, at close range. One of the bullets struck his leg and the other two hit him in the chest.

On a call to 911, Wagoner told the dispatcher, "I've been hit in the leg. My chest feels like I've been hit with a sledgehammer."

Fortunately for Wagoner, he kept a copy of "The Message" New Testament in his left pocket—the bullets were absorbed by the Bible, saving his life.

Sgt. Michael Pauley of the Dayton Police Department said, "There was obviously some kind of intervention involved in this incident, because he probably should not be here."

The police report noted that the rounds were "nestled inside" the New Testament.

Wagoner's son posted on his Facebook page on Monday afternoon, "Dad is doing good now and my family and I are just lucky he is still alive."

Fox News contacted Eugene H. Peterson, author of "The Message" version of the Bible, to let him know how the Book had spared a man's life.

Said the 81-year-old Peterson, "I've heard stories about that happening during the second World War. I'm glad to be in the club."

Although police declined to comment on the shooting, it was thought that it might have been a gang initiation.