Survivor of Waffle House Shooting Buys Wedding Dress for Waitress Who Helped Save Him
On April 22, Michael Garth Sr. and his friend walked into a Waffle House in Antioch, Tennessee, expecting to get some food before heading out.
When they got in and sat down at the bar, the waitress there asked them to move — she was washing dishes and didn’t want the two men to get splashed.
They did, a little put out at having to move, but it soon became clear that her small request had probably saved their lives.
A gunman wearing nothing but a coat arrived on the scene and started to shoot at people in the parking lot. He didn’t stop there. After entering the restaurant, he began shooting at customers and employees, as well.
He managed to kill four people before James Shaw Jr. intervened and was able to take the firearm away from the crazed man. After ditching his coat, the shooter fled the scene.
Garth Sr. waited to talk about this episode since he didn’t want to unnecessarily worry his mother, who was on vacation at the time.
“I chose not to share my story on my page until I was able to talk to my mother as she was on Vacation for her anniversary in Aruba,” he wrote on Facebook. “She was aware of the event, but I chose not to inform her of my involvement until her return in an effort to let her enjoy her trip.”
“I was able to speak to her tonight as she visited me on her way home from the airport. I was finally able to hold my mother as I cried in her arms as she prayed over me and thanked the Lord for sparing my life.”
“There is nothing stronger than a praying mother,” he continued. “First I would like to thank the Lord for the series of events that lead to my life being spared that night.”
In his post, he recognized the efforts of both the waitress who asked them to move and the man who finally confronted the shooter.
“I am attempting to get in contact with James Shaw Jr as I would like to invite him to dinner with my family to show him who and what he saved with his act of bravery. If anyone can assist me in getting in contact with him it would be greatly appreciated.”
“He is my living guardian angel and I will be forever grateful. God is real and I will use this second chance at life to serve him and tell everyone who will listen of his power.”
While the jury’s still out on whether or not Shaw Jr. will take up Garth Sr. on the offer, Garth Sr.’s mom, Vickie Davis, was on the hunt for the young lady whose request had kept her son out of harm’s way.
And Davis found her. She also found out that the young lady was getting married soon, so Davis offered to buy her dress for her.
The dress is beautiful, the bride-to-be is beautiful, and this has turned out to be a lovely story of protection and gratitude even though it started with loss.
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