A quiet Sunday at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, Pennsylvania, turned into a terrifying ordeal when a 26-year-old man named Bernard Polite entered the church and attempted to shoot Pastor Glenn Germany during his sermon.
The incident, which occurred just after 1 p.m., was captured on video by the church’s deacon and later shared online by Pastor Germany himself.
In the video, Pastor Germany can be seen facing the barrel of a gun, a moment he described as surreal.
“I was like, this is not happening,” he said. However, thanks to what he believed was divine intervention, the gun malfunctioned, and no shots were fired. “I thank God because only God stopped and jammed this gun,” Germany expressed.
As Pastor Germany ducked out of harm’s way, Deacon Clarence McCallister bravely intervened, tackling Polite to the ground and preventing further harm.
McCallister’s quick actions earned him praise from Pastor Germany, who called him a hero.
Watch the shocking clip below.
During his interaction with the police, Polite revealed that he believed he was dealing with spirits and had been hearing voices in his mind.
Pastor Germany recognized these statements as signs of mental illness.
“This guy was just dealing with spirits he said, and he came in and wanted to shoot somebody,” Germany recounted.
Despite the terrifying experience, Pastor Germany forgave Polite, acknowledging that the young man was struggling with mental health issues.
However, the emotional toll of the incident was evident as Pastor Germany spoke about his concern for his 14-year-old daughter, who was present during the service.
“I still had to be strong because I had to be strong for her, but I couldn’t take it, and just seeing her, that’s the part that’s hard for me to digest,” he shared.
Germany hopes to use this traumatic experience to raise awareness among his parishioners about the reality of mental illness.
He emphasized that Polite’s behavior was a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those struggling with mental health issues.
Bernard Polite now faces serious charges, including aggravated assault and attempted homicide.
He has been denied bail and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing next week.
Allegheny County Police are also investigating the fatal shooting of Derek Polite, found dead in Bernard Polite’s home.
Officers responded to a report from Eastern Regional Mon Valley Police about a shooting on Stokes Avenue at 8 p.m.
Detectives from Allegheny County Police’s homicide unit are leading the investigation.
A neighbor reported hearing a gunshot earlier but couldn’t pinpoint the source.
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Prayers for this may and the pastor. Mental health is real and the attack on the church is severe.