A gunman was arrested last weekend after pulling a firearm on a Pennsylvania pastor during a sermon, a horrifying ordeal caught on camera.
Bernard Polite, 26, was arrested Sunday afternoon after attempting to shoot and kill Pastor Glenn Germany at Jesus Dwelling Church in North Braddock, police said.
A horrifying livestream of the ordeal showed the pastor crouching for cover as the gunman brandished a weapon.
“God definitely pulled the trigger and I’m grateful that I’m still here,” Germany said. WTAE.
“I started preaching, and all of a sudden I 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. , smiled at me.”
“Suddenly, I saw a gun pointed at me. All I could do at that point was run and take cover.”
Church Deacon Clarence McAllister was filmed jumping over Polite and tackling him shortly after. He and the pastor then disarmed the suspect and detained him until police arrived.
Germany, whose 14-year-old daughter was at the church at the time, said the suspect later told the suspect in custody that he had seen a “spirit” in his mind telling him to shoot.
“This man came in saying he was just dealing with spirits and wanted to shoot someone,” German authorities said. “He said you dodged a taco today. That’s what he told me. And I think that’s slang for you dodged a bullet.”
“He actually apologized to me. I told him, ‘I forgive you, and I want you to know that I love you,'” the pastor said on NBC’s “Today.” This was revealed in another interview.
Polite has been charged with numerous charges, including aggravated assault and attempted murder.
Meanwhile, Allegheny County police are investigating after the body of a 56-year-old man was found in Polite’s home, less than a half-mile from the church.
It was not immediately clear when the victim, identified as Derek Polite, was shot.
Police have not said whether there is a suspect in the shooting.
The exact relationship between Polite and the victim was not immediately known, but local media reported that the church shooter lived there with his uncle.
