A Pennsylvania pastor narrowly escaped death when a gunman entered his church and attempted to shoot him during a Sunday sermon about the “enemies of God.”
Rev. Glenn Germany of the Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, a Pittsburgh suburb, credits divine intervention for his survival.
Speaking to “Good Morning America,” Germany described the assailant as a stranger to his congregation.
The incident, captured on the church’s livestream video, showed the suspect drawing a silver handgun and pulling the trigger, but the weapon jammed. Germany called it a “miracle of God,” saying, “That bullet had a name on it.”
Clarence McCallister, a church deacon, tackled the suspect from behind when the gun malfunctioned. Germany and McCallister disarmed the assailant, and other congregation members held him until Pennsylvania State Police arrived.
Police identified the suspect as 26-year-old Bernard Junior Polite. Following his arrest, Allegheny County authorities discovered the body of a 56-year-old man, identified as Derek Polite, who had been fatally shot at the suspect’s nearby home.
The relationship between the deceased victim and the suspect has not been disclosed.
According to a criminal complaint, Polite allegedly confessed to attempting to take Germany’s life, telling Trooper Adam J. Sikorski that “God told him to do it.”
Germany noticed the suspect enter the church and smile at him before approaching the pulpit and aiming the gun directly at the pastor. Germany darted behind a podium as McCallister tackled the suspect.
“I just jumped up and … pulled his arm down to his side and locked him up,” McCallister told “GMA.” Germany called McCallister’s actions “an act of heroism.”
Polite faces charges of recklessly endangering another person and aggravated assault. State police are investigating his connection to the man found fatally shot in his home.
The pastor and his congregation are grateful for the miraculous outcome and the heroic actions of those who intervened to prevent a tragedy.
Credit: ABCNews.com
