Authorities in Pennsylvania have arrested and charged a 26-year-old man who was seen allegedly attempting to shoot a pastor during a Sunday service livestream. According to NBC News, the suspect, identified as Bernard Junior Polite, faces charges including criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.
Polite was also denied bail during his arraignment on Monday. In the wake of the attempted shooting, authorities said they later found the body of a man identified as Polite’s family member at a home where the victim and suspect stayed.
The pastor Polite attempted to shoot was identified as Glenn Germany. He was said to be preaching at the Jesus Dwelling Place Church in Allegheny County when Polite came inside and aimed a gun at him. The church service was also being livestreamed when the incident occurred.
The pastor ducked to a podium and shocked congregants were heard screaming. A church deacon managed to tackle Polite to the ground, and Germany ultimately disarmed the suspect. Authorities also said Germany and a congregant restrained Polite until police responded to the scene.
“He stood up and he smiled at me, and it was just a smile, but he comes to right here and then all of a sudden that’s when I see him pull a gun and all I could do was just duck and get out of the way,” Germany told WPXI in an interview.
“It clicked. You heard him shoot it. So, God jammed the gun so that the bullet didn’t come out,” Germany said, adding that he had a conversation with Polite in the wake of the incident.
“He said, ‘Look, spirits was in my mind. They got in my mind and they told me come in and shoot the pastor.’ He actually apologized to me. I told him that I forgive you and want you to know that I love you,” Germany said.
Police then found the body of Polite’s relative hours after he tried to shoot Germany, NBC News reported. That victim was identified as 56-year-old Derek Polite, and authorities have since launched an investigation into the fatal shooting.
“At this point, no charges have been filed in connection with the homicide and it remains an active investigation,” police spokesperson Jim Madalinsky said.
A family member told the news outlet that Polite had been staying with Derek for several years. The family member said the 26-year-old has a history of mental illness, though there had not been any concerning incidents during his time in the Pittsburgh area.
