In a harrowing incident at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, Pennsylvania, a pastor narrowly escaped injury when an armed intruder approached the pulpit during a sermon. The incident, which took place on Sunday, was captured on video and shows the pastor, Rev. Glenn Germany, quickly taking cover behind the pulpit as the assailant pointed a gun at him.
A quick-acting parishioner, sitting near the front row, heroically tackled the gunman from behind, assisting in disarming and restraining him until law enforcement arrived. The suspect, identified by Pennsylvania State Police as 26-year-old Bernard Polite, is now facing multiple charges including attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment, and is being held without bail at Allegheny County Jail.
Rev. Germany, in a subsequent Facebook video, expressed his gratitude for the divine intervention that prevented the shooting, and shared his relief at being unharmed. He described the assailant as a young man grappling with mental health issues who had exploited an open door to enter the church. This traumatic event coincided with a separate police investigation into a body found on Stokes Avenue, where Polite reportedly has family ties.
Polite allegedly confessed to police that he believed he was commanded by God to commit the act and expressed a desire to be incarcerated to “clear his mind.” He is scheduled to appear in court again on May 13.
This alarming event underscores the need for ongoing awareness and security measures in places of worship, as well as the importance of mental health interventions in preventing such crises. The Allegheny County Police Department is actively investigating both the attempted shooting and the related homicide on Stokes Avenue.
