The lifeless body of Derek Polite, cousin to Bernard Junior Polite, was discovered on Sunday following an alarming incident at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock. Allegheny Police Superintendent Christopher Kearns, in a statement to WTAE, said, "We believe that the shooting death of Derek Polite occurred around 10am, before the incident later on that afternoon at the church." Bernard has since been charged with criminal homicide in relation to his cousin's death.
Superintendent Kearns further elaborated that it seems Derek's life was claimed by a solitary bullet wound he incurred while transitioning between floors. "It appears the victim was shot while walking up the stairs from the first floor to the second floor," he stated. However, the police have yet to disclose a motive for the shooting.
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The decision to inspect Bernard's residence was made after the 26-year-old was captured on a livestream brandishing a firearm in a church and issuing threats to Pastor Glenn Germany. Pastor Germany, in an interview with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, revealed that he had a conversation with Bernard post-incident, during which Bernard confessed to being guided by "thoughts" in his head.
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"I said, ‘What made you do it?’ I mean, ‘What were you thinking?’ And he said, ‘I don’t know, it was just a thought in my mind, thoughts coming to your head you just do what the thoughts say,'" Pastor Germany recalled. Bernard later reportedly informed Pennsylvania State Troopers that he was instructed by "God" to shoot the pastor, as reported by ABC News.
The police have confirmed that the firearm Bernard wielded at the church is the same one used in Derek's murder. Pastor Germany also stated that Bernard attempted to shoot him, but the gun malfunctioned. "He pulled the trigger and a miracle of God happened that the gun got jammed. That bullet had a name on it," Pastor Germany told ABC’s Good Morning America.
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Bernard was apprehended after church attendees managed to subdue him and disarm him. Pastor Germany noted that he had observed the suspect entering the church and had even received a smile from him before he drew his weapon.
"I started to begin to preach and all of a sudden, from my left-hand side, I saw him move from the back to the front of the church, and he set up in the front corner of the church and smiled at me," Pastor Germany told Action 4 News. "All of a sudden, I just saw a gun pointing right at me. And at that point, all I could try to do is try to run for cover."
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When the gun malfunctioned, churchgoers restrained the man until the police arrived. Court records obtained by The Independent reveal that the suspect has been charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and attempted homicide.
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