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Irish Star
Man tried to shoot pastor during church service in Pennsylvania because 'God told him to do it'
By Associated Press & Fionnuala Boyle,
11 days ago
A man tried to shoot a pastor during a church service in Pennsylvania because "God told him to do it". Bernard Polite walked into Jesus' Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock on Sunday while the service was being livestreamed .
The 26-year-old walked towards the front of the church while the Rev. Glenn Germany was giving a sermon around 1pm. The pastor told WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh that Polite smiled at him before pointing the gun at him.
Polite was thwarted, though, when his gun didn't fire. German ducked out the way and a man leaped from a pew to tackle Polite. The reverend and the congregant then worked together to wrestle the gun away from Polite.
“I am feeling grateful that I woke up this morning and that I am here. It could have gone an opposite direction,” Germany told The Associated Press on Monday. “But God has intervened and I am grateful for him.”
Polite was subdued and held until state troopers arrived. Polite said “God told me to do it” and that he planned to shoot Germany and “wait to be arrested” so he could go to jail and clear his mind, according to court documents .
The body of a man who had been shot dead was found in a home near the church where Polite had been shortly before going to the church . The body was identified as Derek Polite, 56, of North Braddock.
It is not yet known if he was related to the gunman. Polite was not known at the church - he only wandered over after hearing music coming from there.
Polite faces charges aggravated assault and attempted homicide , and is being held without bail at Allegheny County Jail. Police said they they didn’t know if Polite has an attorney , and county court records did not list one.
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