Man Arrested After Trying To Shoot Pastor During Service

May 6, 2024 4:59 am

NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. — (WPXI) – A man is facing charges after Pennsylvania State Police say he tried to shoot a pastor who was giving a sermon at a church in North Braddock. Video taken at the church shows Pastor Glenn Germany preaching at the Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church on Lobinger Avenue at 1:09 p.m. on Sunday. A man then walks up and points a handgun directly at him. Police say the man tried to fire the gun but it did not go off. Pennsylvania State Police say the gunman was Bernard Junior Polite, 26, from Braddock. The small congregation had about 25 parishioners, including Germany’s daughter, when police say Polite walked from the back of the church to the front pew. The pastor quickly dives behind the pulpit and the gunman walks after him. That’s when Deacon Clarence McCallister, 63, quickly took Polite, who was still holding the gun, to the ground. McCallister was behind the camera taping the service a few feet away. Polite reportedly told the pastor voices in his head told him to shoot him. Polite is facing attempted homicide charges. County Police confirmed to Channel 11 that Polite lived with his uncle less than half a mile away from the church on Stokes Avenue. Detectives were called to the home at 8:15 p.m. for the shooting death of a man. The identity of that man hs not been released at this time.