NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- A church service in North Braddock, Pennsylvania was upended Sunday when a man pulled a gun on the pastor in the middle of his sermon.
Pennsylvania State Police have charged 26-year-old Bernard Polite of Braddock and say he entered and attempted to shoot pastor Glenn Germany while the pastor was delivering a sermon at Jesus' Dwelling Place Church on Sunday just after 2 p.m.
Video taken by the church's deacon, and posted online by the Pastor Glenn Germany, shows the moment the pastor suddenly found himself staring down the barrel of a gun.
"I was like, this is not happening," Pastor Germany said.
Yet somehow, it was, but no shot was fired.
"I thank God because only God stopped and jammed this gun," Germany said.
As the pastor ducked out of the way, church Deacon Clarence McCallister leaps in front of the camera, tackling the man with the gun to the ground.
McCallister told us it was just how his mind reacted.
"There's something that needs to be done and I jumped up and handled my business," McCallister said.
"He's a hero," Germany said of McCallister.
McCallister and Germany successfully restrained Polite until law enforcement arrived and took him into custody.
Polite is now confronting multiple charges, including aggravated assault and attempted homicide.
During his time in police custody, Germany engaged in a conversation with Polite.
"He mentioned that he was battling with spirits and had the intention to harm someone," Germany shared, noting that Polite claimed to hear voices in his head.
Germany recognized that Polite may be struggling with a form of mental illness.
"He told me, 'You ducked a taco today,' which I later learned is slang for 'You dodged a bullet,'" Germany recounted.
Polite expressed his remorse to Germany, who forgave him, but admitted that he is still processing the events.
"The most painful part for me, bringing tears to my eyes, was not being able to witness my daughter's emotional breakdown."
Germany's 14-year-old daughter was present among the attendees during the service.
"I had to stay strong, especially for her, but it was incredibly difficult for me, especially seeing her in that state," Germany expressed.
Prior to the attempted shooting, Polite reportedly smiled at Germany.
Germany is hoping to use the story and stress to his parishioners that mental illness is real. The man had walked in and out of the room several times, Germany said.
Police investigating deadly shooting at home of suspect
Allegheny County Police are investigating after a man was found shot to death inside the home where Bernard Polite lives.
Police say that officers from the Eastern Regional Mon Valley Police Department were called about a shooting along Stokes Avenue around 8 p.m.
When police arrived at the scene, they found a man shot to death inside the home.
Detectives from the Allegheny County Police Department's homicide unit were called and are now handling the investigation.
The victim inside the home has not yet been identified and it's unclear if Polite, who lives at the home, is responsible for the shooting.
A neighbor told KDKA they heard a gunshot earlier in the day, but weren't sure where it had come from.
