On Sunday, a Pennsylvania pastor ducked for cover during a sermon when a video showed an armed man walking up to the front of his church and pointing a gun at him from close range.
Parishioners near the front row ran up and tackled the suspect from behind, helping to disarm and subdue him before police arrived at Jesus Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock. Pennsylvania State Police identified the suspect as 26-year-old Bernard Polite.
The Rev. Glenn Germany crouched behind the pulpit, then emerged and helped take away the gun.
He said his gun then malfunctioned and his life was saved.
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A man, identified by police as 26-year-old Bernard Polite, points a gun at Pastor Glenn German during a sermon at Jesus Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Polite was suspected of attempted murder and other charges after the gun was not fired and church members subdued and disarmed him. (Glenn Germany/Local News X/TMX)
“God miraculously stopped the shooting,” he said in a second video posted to Facebook.
The German chancellor told Fox News Digital on Monday that he was grateful to be alive and in “great” spirit.
WATCH: Pennsylvania man points gun at pastor during Sunday sermon
He had never seen the man before he entered the church on Sunday and pointed a handgun at him.
Pastor Glenn Germany of Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, Pennsylvania will preach on Sunday, May 5, 2024. (Glenn Germany/Local News X/TMX)
”[He was] “He was just a young man with mental illness, so he saw an open door and decided to come in,” the pastor said.
He said he was told by police that the body of another man had been found at a home on Stokes Street and that the suspect, who appeared to be suffering from mental illness, had said he was “possessed”.
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A church member sitting near the front of the church ran up to the gunman and helped wrest the gun from his hands. There were no injuries. (Glenn Germany/Local News X/TMX)
Polite is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, according to court records. He was being held in the Allegheny County Jail without bail.
Polite is scheduled to appear in court again on May 13th.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by police, pittsburgh post gazettePolite allegedly told police that “God told me to do it,” that he was going to kill the pastor and that he wanted to go to prison to “clear my mind.”
Pastor Glenn Germany said the attacker appeared to be mentally ill and claimed to be “possessed”. (Glenn Germany/Local News X/TMX)
The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office also announced separately that it had opened a homicide investigation into the Stokes Avenue death.
Polite has relatives on the street, according to public records.
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FOX News’ Mitch Picasso contributed to this report.
