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Man arrested after attempting to shoot pastor mid-sermon

Theo

Damita Menezes and Taylor Delandro

13 hours ago

(NewsNation) — A pastor said he is “grateful to be alive” after surviving a suspected shooting attempt during a church service after the shooter’s gun appeared to jam, allowing the pastor and a deacon to find the suspect to disarm before someone was hurt.

Bernard Junior Polite, 26, walked into Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday. A video from the church’s livestream shows Polite walking to the front of the church and pointing a gun at Rev. Glenn Germany as he delivers a sermon.


Deacon Clarence McCallister, who was operating the church’s video camera, jumped into action and tackled Polite, holding him until police arrived.

“The guy had to be shot down. “My pastor was in trouble,” McCallister said on NewsNation’s “Banfield” Monday.

Polite allegedly told Germany that “spirits” had tasked him with carrying out the attack. Germany said that Polite had apologized, and Germany said that he had forgiven him. He added that Polite appears to be suffering from mental illness.

“I told him I love him and forgive him,” Germany told NewsNation’s “Dan Abrams Live.” The pastor’s wife, Carrie, said, “As believers, we must forgive. It may be difficult, but that is our aim.”

About 25 people were present during the incident, including Germany’s 14-year-old daughter.

Polite was held in the church until state troopers arrested him. According to police, he is accused of grievous bodily harm and attempted murder.

After his arrest, authorities said they found the body of a 56-year-old relative, believed to be Polite’s uncle, who had been fatally shot in Polite’s home.

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