6-Year-Old Witnesses Double Shooting of Mom & Dad And Family Forgives the 2 Men Who Did It
September 22, 2020

The roadside robbery of Wilma and Jonathan Hochstetler tragically turned into a double shooting, all right in front of a couple's 6-year-old son. But the way this faithful family responded makes this such an inspiring story of forgiveness!
We live in a world where both good and evil exist. And sadly, that means terrible things will sometimes happen to good people, just like with this double shooting.
RELATED: Dad Dies At Church In Texas In Daughter’s Arms & Her Response To Man Behind It: ‘I Forgive Him’
Jonathan Hochstetler, who owns his own roofing company, was on his way home when one of his tires blew out. It caused some damage to the lighting on his trailer, so he called his wife Wilma to bring him a spare tire. Wilma Hochstetler and 6-year-old son Bradon hopped into the vehicle and headed out to help.
As Jonathan worked on the trailer, Wilma noticed two men approaching. She alerted her husband, but the men pulled out guns and robbed the couple. All the while, 6-year-old Bradon Hochstetler watched from inside the vehicle.
That should have been the end of it. There was no need for a double shooting. But for some reason, the robbers turned an already terrible situation tragic.
"They turned around and started walking away,” Bradon's grandfather, Samuel Hochstetler recalled based on his grandson's account. "All of a sudden, they just turned and shot. His wife just crumbled immediately. He knew right away she was dead."
6-Year-Old Helps Critically Injured Dad
Thankfully, the attackers either didn't notice Bradon, who was in the truck while all this went down, or decided to spare the 6-year-old. Sadly, though, the little boy witnessed the entire robbery and double shooting.
“He’s telling us more and more of the story," Samuel explained.
It was too late for Wilma, who died at the scene. But the bullet hit Jonathan Hochstetler in the neck. And while it left him in critical condition, he was able to instruct his son to bring his phone to him so he could call 911.
This horrible tragedy has left the Hochstetler children -- Melissa (16), Abigail (14), Kendra (10), and Bradon (6) -- without a mother. And as the family wrestles to cope with the double shooting, they are falling back on their faith.
"Forgiveness is the answer to things like this," Samuel says.
RELATED: Powerful Moment When Victim’s Brother Forgave Officer Amber Guyger for Botham Jean Death
Jonathan Hochstetler has undergone two surgeries and has a feeding tube. Yet, even after losing his wife and in the midst of fighting for his own life, he isn't holding onto anger.
“He said I have total peace, I’m comfortable, I’m encouraged,” Samuel said. “He said I have no anger towards those men.”
God's Word Inspires Forgiveness After Double Shooting
Samuel calls out several Bible verses about forgiveness helping to guide the family during this difficult time.
"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you." Matthew 5:44
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, said the Lord." Romans 12:19
"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21
Scripture is the inspiration for the family's response, with Samuel saying, "So we cannot allow this evil to overcome us, make us bitter and angry."
RELATED: 26 Years Later, Victim Confronts The Man Who Shot Her In The Face
Rather than focusing on what he's lost, Jonathan is thanking the Lord for the blessings that remain.
"My son has thanked his heavenly Father over and over that he’s not paralyzed," Samuel said.
Family's Response To Tragedy Is Inspiration For Us All
This family is truly praising God in the storm. And not only that, Samuel penned a powerful letter explaining how they are heeding the advice in Matthew 5:44 and praying for the men behind the double shooting.
"I extend forgiveness towards the two murderers," Samuel Hochstetler says. "Revenge only begets more violence. My heart’s desire for them is that they would repent and fall on their faces before the Lord Jesus and cry out for mercy for their own soul’s sake. Jesus would desire to give them a new heart and a new spirit."
Faith doesn't stop tragedies from happening. But it does allow God to use our brokenness for something bigger... something beautiful.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Christmas Eve Massacre Survivor Shares Testimony After 9 Family Members Killed
The heartache this family feels is something only God can help ease. But what an inspiration they are setting for us all in how to find triumph during tragedy!
WATCH: Family Offers Forgiveness Following Double Shooting
LISTEN: Tragic Story Behind New Jeremy Camp Movie 'I Still Believe'
h/t: NBC 12
Featured Image: Indy Star
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for the One Who Desperately Needs Hope This Easter Sunday - Your Daily Prayer - April 20
The grave of Jesus and the graves in our lives don’t get the final word. No situation, season, or soul is too far gone for Jesus's power to breathe life into again.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for the One Who Desperately Needs Hope This Easter Sunday - Your Daily Prayer - April 20
The grave of Jesus and the graves in our lives don’t get the final word. No situation, season, or soul is too far gone for Jesus's power to breathe life into again.
Past Stories
- Couple Reunites 15-Year-Old Blind Dog With Owners After Finding Her in the Wilderness
- He Saved Her Life in a Pool Accident Five Years Ago, Now They Are Engaged
- Actress Chrissy Metz Left Hollywood For Nashville and She Couldn't Be Happier
- Stranger Helps 81-Year-Old Waitress Who Couldn't Afford to Retire, Now Her Prayers Have Been Answered
- 49-Year-Old Melanie Barratt Becomes First Blind Woman to Swim the English Channel
- 9-Year-Old Boy Remembered By Teacher and Community After Being Swept Away By Flood Waters
- 16-Year-Old Heard a Family's Cries and Saved Them From a House Fire
- Family Grows From 4 to 8 Overnight After Welcoming Identical Quadruplet Daughters
- Little Girl With Autism Reminds Others of Snow White and Her Connection to Animals
- Candace Cameron Bure Shares Fantastic News That Former Co-star, Dave Coulier, is Cancer-Free
- Soldier is Reunited With the Dog She Served With While Deployed
- Her Grandfather Kept a Log of Every Memory He Had With Her Grandmother, and It's Precious
- This 30-Year-Old Feline Might Just Be the World's Oldest Cat
- Special Messages About Love From Kindergarten Class Displayed at Teacher's Wedding
- A Sneaky Brown Tree Snake Slithers Into An Oven in Australia, and Luckily Doesn't Get Cooked
- Florida Man Meets the Son Who Had Been Searching For Him For Almost 40 Years
- Four-Year-Old Sends Out a Message in a Bottle, Receives Reply Less Than Two Weeks Later
- Delivery Driver Saves Woman's Life After Double Checking When Something Didn't Seem Right
- Woman in Heels Stops Robbery at Convenience Store With Her Impressive Martial Arts Skills
- Man That Survived More Than 90 Days at Sea Thought About His Mother Every Single Day
- Quick Thinking 9-Year-Old Saves Choking Friend During Snack Time Emergency
- Video Store Owner Creates 'Christina's Corner' For a Long-Time Customer
- Texas Man Gets Married in the Hospital After Kidney Transplant
- A Bride to Be and Her Best Friend Have Plane to Themselves and Enjoy Every Minute of it
- Dogs Come to School to Help Comfort Young Students Affected by the Eaton Fire
- Toddler Braves the Dark to Save His Great-Grandma
- All Four of These Best Friends Now Live On the Same Street and It's Amazing
- Woman Finds the Most Precious Message Inside Her Thrift Store Purchase
- Mom is Hit By a Piece of Power Tool On Her Way to Walt Disney World
- Veteran Who Loved Burger King Honored With His Own Chair
- Toddler Using Old Phone Calls 911 For Donuts and Gets a Sweet Surprise
- Hospital Hosts Special Father-Daughter Dance for Young Girl Who Missed the One at Her School
- Carl Thomas Dean, Dolly Parton's Husband of Almost 60 Years, Passes Away at 82
- Woman Donates Her Kidney to Help Save Prom Date From 35 Years Ago
- Couple Thank and Befriend Man Who Saved Their House From a Wildfire
- After 84 Years of Marriage, This Couple Just Broke a Record, and Share Some Great Advice
- Woman Gives Birth On Plane With the Help of a Flight Attendant
- Married For 68 Years, This Husband Does This Simple Sweet Thing For His Wife Every Night
- A Couple in Their 90s Spent 73 Years Apart, Now They Are Engaged
- Woman Reunites With Toddler She Saved From Drowning Back in 1961
- Three Superhero Teens Saved Man on Railroad Tracks After Spotting Him From Their Classroom
- Father and Son Are Able to Survive Night in the Utah Wilderness After Finding a Backpack
- Top Resurrection Sunday Songs You Must Listen To This Year
- Grumpy Grey Seal Takes Over Hotel Room in the Netherlands, To Take a Nap
- His Dog Was Lost For Almost a Decade, But Now He is Back Home Again
- Rejoice with These Top Easter Songs for Worship and Praise
- After Going On a Fun Airport Journey, A Lost Stuffed Bunny Finds Its Way Back Home
- A Bull Rider Knows That God Has Bigger Plans After Taking a Bull's Horn In His Neck
- 98-Year-Old Great-Grandmother Has a Special Connection to Her Great-Granddaughter
- Mom Receives a Heartwarming Message From Best Friend After Son is Diagnosed With Autism
Top Artists
Top Music Videos

Bill and Gloria Gaither Guy Penrod's Stirring Live Performance of 'Then Came The Morning'

Universal Music Group Anna Golden's Stunning Performance of 'The Church I Grew Up In' Captivates

Passion Music 'The Lord Will Provide' Passion And Landon Wolfe Live Performance

Alabama Live Performance of 'Because He Lives' by Alabama

GodTube Music Anne Wilson Talks Sharing Her Faith at Secular Country Concerts
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.