NORTH BRADDOCK, PA (3-minute read) – A shocking sequence of events unfolded in North Braddock this past Sunday when a man attempted to shoot a pastor during a church service, only to have a body discovered in his home later that evening.
The North Braddock church incident occurred at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church on Lobringer Avenue, where services are regularly live-streamed. During the service, a man later identified as 26-year-old Bernard Polite from Braddock, confronted Pastor Glenn Germany with a firearm. In a miraculous turn of events, the gun jammed as he attempted to fire. “I’m thankful to God that I’m still here because he definitely pulled the trigger,” Pastor Germany recounted to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.
The video below shows how the events unfolded.
Witnesses described a tense scene where Polite, previously unnoticed by Pastor Germany, made deliberate eye contact before advancing from the back of the church to the front, eventually drawing a gun and pointing it at the pastor. As Germany sought cover, quick-thinking church members intervened, with one individual heroically wrestling the firearm away from Polite.
Later that day, a grim discovery was made in Polite’s residence on Stokes Avenue, where police found the body of 56-year-old Derek Polite, a relative, dead from gunshot wounds.
Bernard Polite was arrested and faces charges including attempted homicide, with his motives purportedly spiritual, claiming divine instruction led him to target the pastor. He is currently detained at the Allegheny County Jail awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Firearm Safety Tip: Ensure that firearms are securely stored and only handled by individuals trained and legally permitted to do so. Unsecured firearms can lead to unintended harm or criminal activities.
