Gunman Points Weapon at Pennsylvania Pastor During Sunday Sermon

A chilling incident occurred during a Sunday sermon in North Braddock, Pennsylvania, when a man armed with a handgun approached the pastor and pointed it at him from close range. The pastor ducked for cover before parishioners intervened to subdue the suspect.

In a shocking turn of events, a Pennsylvania pastor faced a terrifying ordeal during his Sunday sermon when an armed man walked up to the pulpit and pointed a gun at him. Reverend Glenn Germany instinctively ducked for cover as the man, later identified as 26-year-old Bernard Polite, aimed the weapon directly at him from mere steps away.

Security footage captured the harrowing moment, showing Polite approaching the front of Jesus' Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock and pointing the handgun at Germany, who was delivering his sermon at the time. Without hesitation, a parishioner sitting near the front rushed towards Polite and tackled him from behind, helping to disarm and restrain him before police arrived.

"God, by a miracle, stopped the shooting," Germany later said in a video he posted to Facebook, expressing his relief and gratitude for being spared. He had never encountered Polite before his sudden appearance in the church that fateful Sunday.

According to Germany, Polite appeared to be suffering from mental health issues. "He was just a young man dealing with mental illness – seen an open door and decided to enter," the pastor surmised. Police later discovered the body of another man at a nearby residence, and Polite reportedly confessed to being "possessed by spirits" during his arrest.

Polite was charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment. He was denied bail and remains incarcerated at the Allegheny County Jail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13th. The Allegheny County Police Department has also initiated a homicide investigation into the separate death on Stokes Avenue.

The heroic actions of the congregant who intervened and disarmed Polite averted a potential tragedy. The incident highlights the critical role that community members can play in preventing violent incidents and maintaining public safety.

"I'm just so grateful for the people in my church. They love me. They care about me. They protected me," Germany said, expressing his appreciation for the support and bravery of his parishioners.

Public records indicate that Polite has relatives living on Stokes Avenue, where the body of the second victim was discovered. Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the tip line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of religious institutions and the need for increased security measures to protect places of worship from potential threats. Law enforcement agencies and community leaders are working together to enhance safety protocols and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.