A man accused of trying to kill a pastor during a sermon in Pennsylvania on Sunday was charged with the unrelated murder of his cousin, but police say he is also the man accused of trying to kill a pastor during a sermon in Pittsburgh area. It was announced that he was killed with the same gun that misfired when he was stopped.
Bernard Jr. Polite, 26, allegedly entered Jesus’ Dwelling Church in North Braddock, sat near the front, and eventually approached the pastor with a drawn handgun.
Deacon Clarence McAllister looked through the viewfinder of his camera while live streaming the service. The recording shows a man walking to the front of the church, pointing a gun at Pastor Glenn Germany and pulling the trigger.
According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Polite told police he was drawn inside after hearing church music and that he intended to kill the pastor to clear his mind in prison.
Hero who confronted Pennsylvania church shooter breaks silence: ‘Pastor’s life was in danger’
Bernard Polite, shown in a booking photo provided by the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office. The 26-year-old is accused of killing his cousin, Derek Polite, as well as storming into a Sunday church service and attempting to kill the pastor before the gun went off. (Allegheny County Police Department)
Witnesses heard a click, but the gun misfired. McAllister jumped over his railing and tackled the suspect.
Pennsylvania man points gun at church pastor, interrupts video sermon
He and the pastor took the gun and detained the suspect until police arrived. According to Germany, the suspect claimed to have heard spiritual voices urging him to commit the murder.
Video: Pennsylvania man points gun at pastor during sermon:
“I heard a click and I thought, ‘Oh my god, I’m so glad the gun jammed,'” McAllister told Fox News Digital.
Investigators said the firing pin hit the detonator, but the gun did not fire.
Polite claimed to be possessed by a spirit and sat smiling while being restrained.
“Mental illness is serious,” McAllister said. “This needs to be taken seriously and we need to do our best to recognize it.”
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McAllister and German told Fox News Digital that they had never met the suspect before Sunday. Public records show he has ties to New Jersey.
“I’ve never seen him in church, I’ve never seen him in public,” McAllister said.
Hours after the incident at the church, Polite’s relatives called Allegheny County police to a nearby home where Polite lived with his cousin Derek Polite.
A photo of Clarence McAllister, a hero of the Pennsylvania Church, takes out a handgun from a man who entered a local church and pointed a gun at Pastor Glenn German during a sermon on Sunday, May 5, 2024. (Glenn Germany/Local News X/TMX)
Emergency personnel found Derek Polite dead at the scene. The man had a gunshot wound to the head that matched a .380-caliber handgun police recovered at the church, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
Neighbors told police they saw Bernard Polite slowly backing up on his front porch around 10 a.m. Sunday, just before another witness heard gunshots.The incident at the church happened around 1 p.m.
Sunday, May 5, 2024, Pastor Glenn Germany of Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, Pennsylvania, preached. Shortly after, an armed man approached the pulpit, but his gun did not fire. (Glenn Germany/Local News X/TMX)
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Polite is currently charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, as well as murder.
He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bail. Authorities said he is expected to be charged with murder at some point Wednesday.
