Pastor remains remarkably cool when confused man suddenly pulls out gun during mass celebration

Pastor remains remarkably cool when confused man suddenly pulls out gun during mass celebration | Abroad

“God intervened and I am grateful to him,” is how Pastor Glenn Germany responded to an incident at his church in North Braddock, Pennsylvania. A confused man pointed a gun at him during mass, but it malfunctioned.

LOOK. A believer is able to overpower the shooter and the pastor responds to the incident

The incident at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church happened just after 1:00 PM on Sunday while the Mass was being broadcast live. Germany says the man smiled at him and they made eye contact just before he pointed the gun at him. The pastor ducked, after which a churchgoer immediately intervened and stopped the shooter. Germany then helped to disarm the attacker.

“God told me to do it”

The suspect is Bernard J. Polite, 26, of Braddock, who told police that “God told him to do it.” He planned to shoot Germany and “wait to be arrested” so he could go to jail and clear his head. Polite was not known in the church. According to court documents, he walked in there after hearing music there.

A brave churchgoer immediately grabbed the shooter. © screenshot

Another victim

A man identified as Derek Polite (56) was found shot in a home near the church. Police will not say whether he was related to the shooter, but it is clear he was there before he went to church. He faces charges including aggravated assault and attempted murder, and was held without bail yesterday in the Allegheny County Jail.

Gratitude

After the shooting, Pastor Germany posted a video online in which he talks about the incident, visibly impressed. A day later, gratitude prevails. “I’m grateful that I woke up this morning and that I’m here. It could have gone the opposite way,” he told The Associated Press yesterday. “But God intervened and I am grateful to him.”