North Braddock, Pennsylvania – A man who attempted to shoot a pastor during a church service in Pennsylvania now faces charges for the unrelated murder of his cousin. Bernard Junior Polite, 26, entered the Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, pulled out a handgun, and aimed at the pastor but the gun failed to discharge. Polite’s intentions were to clear his mind in jail by killing the pastor.
Court documents reveal that Polite claimed to have been drawn inside by the church music and voices he heard, encouraging him to commit the murder. Fortunately, the gun misfired, and Deacon Clarence McCallister courageously tackled Polite before any harm was done. Polite displayed signs of possession by spirits and appeared calm as he was held down by the pastor and members of the church until authorities arrived.
McCallister emphasized the seriousness of mental illness in this incident and called for greater awareness and recognition of such issues. Polite’s unfamiliarity with the church members raised concerns, and his ties to New Jersey came to light through public records. A few hours later, police responded to a call at Polite’s residence where they discovered the body of his cousin, Derek Polite, with a gunshot wound matching the gun recovered from the church.
Witnesses reported seeing Polite acting strangely shortly before the church incident, further raising suspicions about his mental state. Now facing charges for both attempted homicide and murder, Polite sits in Allegheny County Jail without bail awaiting his arraignment on the murder charge. Authorities continue to investigate the motives and circumstances surrounding these tragic events.
This harrowing incident serves as a reminder of the need for mental health awareness and support, as well as the importance of vigilance in recognizing and addressing concerning behaviors before they escalate to violence.