A man pulled a gun on the pastor during a sermon in North Braddock on Sunday, sparking chaos inside the church.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, Bernard Jr. Polite allegedly tried to shoot and kill Pastor Glenn Germany while he was preaching at Jesus’ Dwelling Church around 1 p.m. WTAE report.
A great video of today’s church service.
This happened in Braddock, Pennsylvania.
The pastor survived without firing after his handgun jammed.pic.twitter.com/AAHQiDtFfU
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) May 6, 2024
“As I began to preach, I suddenly saw him on my left side moving from the back of the church to the front. Then he took up his position in the front corner of the church and I ” Germany said. “Suddenly, I saw a gun pointed at me. All I could do at that point was run and take cover.”
Polite’s gun appeared to jam as he approached Germany and tried to fire, live streaming a video of a church service show. The newspaper reported that as the pastor distanced himself from the 26-year-old suspect, several church members rushed to his defense, but the suspect was tackled and armed by a man attending the church service. It is said that it has been lifted.
The pastor praised the man who tried to protect him, telling WTAE he was a “hero” who “sacrificed himself.”
“He could have lost his life in that fight. But he sacrificed himself for everyone, and he is a hero,” Germany said.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by WTAE, Polite told police he tried to shoot the German because “God told him to do it” and that he wanted to go to prison. (Related: Murder suspect allegedly ate part of dead man’s face: report)
The body of a man shot to death was found inside Polite’s home on Stokes Avenue on Sunday, the newspaper said. The Allegheny County Coroner’s Office on Monday identified the shooting victim as North Braddock resident Derek Polite. Police are investigating the incident, but Church has not yet been charged in connection with the body found at his home.
Polite was charged with attempted murder in connection with the incident at the church, WTAE reported. He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail awaiting a court appearance scheduled for later this month.
