No one assumed there would be a photo or that it would go viral when two men shared a touching moment in a restaurant in September.

But as Volusia County Sheriff’s Deputy Cameron Tucker and his wife Justine were eating at a Zaxby’s restaurant in DeLand, Florida, they were approached by a young black man who asked if he could pray for Officer Tucker’s protection.

Mrs. Tucker was so touched by the gesture that she snapped a photo of the two.

Juan O’Neal is the Stetson University student in that photo, which now has over 50,000 reactions and 25,000 shares on Tucker’s Facebook page alone, but has been shared now by dozens of other outlets.

The college senior and devout Christian simply said “I just did what I felt like God was telling me to do” when he approached the officer.

And while any photo of a young black man and a white police officer naturally inspires conversation about police violence and race, O’Neal’s mother thinks her son’s act of respect was motivated by familiarity rather than difference.

“He grew up you know, dad is a police officer, a detective with the Columbus Police Department. So he knows some of the struggles, some of the things his dad had to go through,” Leisha O’Neal said. “So for him to see another officer, he had an instant connection I’m sure, so it’s no big deal. I’m sure he was compelled to pray for him for everything that is going on in the world and the community so I think it was something he felt like he needed to do.”

And her son confirmed to Yahoo Lifestyle:

“I felt the Lord was [telling me] to pray for this man. I know how much police officers go through and prayer changes things.”

In Mrs. Tucker’s Facebook post, she simply said O’Neal “came up to Cameron and asked is he could pray over him and his protection,” and the officer obliged.

“After crying my eyes out we got to have an amazing conversation with this gentleman. He was on FIRE for God and you could feel His presence in the room. He said that he had felt compelled to talk to us and to pray over Cameron.”

For his part, Officer Tucker called the young man brave for coming up to him while he was in uniform and with his family:

“I was moved by it,” he told Yahoo Lifestyle. “I connected with him as a parent, a man, a Christian, and a police officer.”

Of course, after a photo gains this much attention, interviews followed.

Now O’Neal stays in touch with the Tuckers and their 2-year-old son, who he also struck up a conversation with at the restaurant.

In an updated post, Mrs. Tucker said:

“It’s like Juan O’Neal has been a part of our family for years…What an amazing story being shared in the most beautiful light! ”

O’Neal’s mother says the college senior is planning on joining the U.S. Army in May.

Be sure to scroll down to see an interview with both men.

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Source: Facebook, KKTV 11, Yahoo Lifestyle, Fox 35 Orlando