Watch: Church sermon goes wild after man points a gun at pastor, blames 'ghosts'

A terrifying incident was caught on camera amid a church sermon in Pennsylvania, US, whena man pointed a gun at a pastorand tried to shoot him. The gunman later claimed that "spirits" asked him to open fire.

However, the he failed to shoot the pastor and was later arrested.

Bernard Polite, 26, was nabbed after he tried to shoot pastor Glenn Germany at the Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock on Sunday (May 5), police said.

Upon subsequent search, police officials found one of his relatives gunned down in his home.

The live-stream of the Church sermon turned horrific as the pastor was seen quickly ducking for coveras the man brandished the weapon in front of churchgoers, who also included the pastor’s 14-year-old daughter.

NEW: Gun jams as a 26-year-old man tries shooting a pastor during the middle of a sermon in North Braddock, Pennsylvania.

Pastor Glenn Germany says “only God stopped and jammed this gun.”

Germany revealed that he forgave Bernard Polite, the man who tried killing him after he… pic.twitter.com/Wh3jtQY553 — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 6, 2024

“He pulled the gun; it clicked. You heard him shoot it," said the pastor, while speaking to WPXI.

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Around 25 parishioners were attending Germany's sermon when the gunman walked up suddenly towards the front pew.

“He stood up and he smiled at me. And it was just a smile. He comes to right here and then all of a sudden, that’s when I see him pull the gun and all I could do is duck and try to get out of the way," Germany said.

Church’s deacon Clarence McCallister was recorded leaping across and handling Polite.

He as well as the pastor tried to snatch the gun from the assailant and pinned him down on the floor till the police reached.

Reacting over the incident, McCallister said, “God had his hands on the pastor. He wasn’t letting him go nowhere.”

Suspect claims 'spirits' asked him to open fire

Germany said that later the suspect in police custody revealed to him that he had seen “spirits", who had asked him to open fire.

“He said, ‘The spirits were in my mind. They got in my mind and told me to shoot thepastor’. Heactuallyapologised to me. I told him that ‘I forgive you and want you to know I love you,’ but yes, Idefinitelyforgave him," Germany said.

In another interview with WTAE, the pastor said that the gunman told him, “‘You ducked a taco today. That’s what he told me, and I guess that’s slang for ‘You ducked a bullet.'”

Polite is facingmultiple charges which include aggravated assault and attempted homicide.

Hours after he was arrested, the police found the dead body of a 56-year-oldman in the home where he lived almost half a mile from the church, said Allegheny County police.

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It was not immediately known when the man, who was identified as Derek Polite, was killed.

Speaking to NBC News, a police spokesperson said that the victim is a relative of Polite. As per local reports, the suspect in the church incident used to live with his uncle.

“At this point, no charges have been filed in connection with the homicide and it remains an active investigation,” said police spokesperson Jim Madalinsky, while speaking to NBC News.

(With inputs from agencies)