In a remarkable incident in downtown St. Louis, a man's prayer has been credited with thwarting an ax-wielding suspect during an attempted carjacking. St. Louis circuit attorneys have now charged 37-year-old Romel S. Taylor with first-degree attempted robbery in connection with the incident, along with two unrelated cases of felony robbery.

According to court documents, the terrifying encounter occurred on October 18 in the 600 block of North Seventh Street. Taylor allegedly held up a large ax to the victim as he was exiting his vehicle and demanded the keys. However, instead of complying with the suspect, the victim surprised Taylor by asking if he would pray with him.

Remarkably, as the victim began praying, Taylor decided to walk away, allowing the potential carjacking to be averted. The incident was captured on surveillance video, and media outlet First Alert 4 has requested the footage.

Two days later, Taylor reportedly targeted the Bank of America at 1500 St. Louis Avenue. Prosecutors have charged him with first-degree robbery in connection with this alleged incident. According to charging documents, Taylor entered the bank and handed a teller a note demanding money, gesturing as if he had a gun. The bank complied, handing over more than $4,000 in cash.

Following the bank robbery, police circulated surveillance video still photos, which led another officer to identify Taylor from a previous encounter. He was subsequently arrested and is now in custody without the possibility of bond.

In addition to these charges, prosecutors have also accused Taylor of a carjacking that took place on Thursday in the 4700 block of South Broadway. In this incident, Taylor allegedly approached the victim outside his workplace, brandishing a knife and demanding the keys. The victim complied, and Taylor fled with the vehicle. However, the victim's cellphone was left in the car, allowing officers to track its location.

With the help of the cellphone's tracking device, law enforcement was able to locate Taylor and take him into custody. He now faces counts of first-degree robbery and armed criminal action in connection with this carjacking.

The series of events has left the St. Louis community stunned, yet grateful for the power of prayer in diffusing a potentially dangerous situation. As the legal proceedings unfold, residents hope for justice to be served and for the safety and well-being of the victims involved in these crimes.

The story of the man's prayer leading to the suspect's retreat serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes unexpected actions can have a profound impact. In a world filled with uncertainty, it is the resilience and determination of individuals that can bring about moments of hope and triumph over adversity.