Police in Western Pennsylvania are investigating after a gunman attempted to shoot a preacher at close range during a livestream sermon on early Sunday afternoon.
The life-threatening incident took place at Jesus' Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, which is a borough in Allegheny County about nine miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh.
Shocking livestream footage from the attempted murder showed the suspect in a black T-shirt, later identified as 26-year-old Bernard Junior Polite, walking up to the altar where preacher Glenn Germany was delivering a sermon.
Polite pointed and pulled the trigger as Germany covered his face and took cover, but the firearm failed to discharge due to a mechanical malfunction, according to a police report.
Moments later, the gunman was tackled to the ground by a male congregant of the church.
Germany managed to retrieve the firearm from Polite's grip while he was being restrained.
You can watch the footage below.
Germany, who worked for the church for 14 years, spoke to USA Today for a phone interview and explained:
"The gun did not go off, but he definitely pulled the trigger."
"It was a gentleman who randomly did something up the road... and the next place he came was the church."
The saved preacher recalled a conversation he had with the suspect after the incident.
Germany told NBC affiliate WPXI of Pittsburgh of his interaction with Polite:
“He said, 'Look, spirits was in my mind. They got in my mind and they told me come in and shoot the pastor.'"
"He actually apologized to me. I told him that I forgive you and want you to know that I love you,”
He also identified the heroic congregant who intervened as Clarence McCallister, a 63-year-old deacon who has attended the church for nine years.
Following the scary incident, Germany said:
"Everything is well. At this point it's just about being grateful."
He also shared some details about the suspect's behavior, including that he smiled at Germany before pulling the trigger.
Germany recalled:
"He came in and out of the church a couple times, during praise and worship and then all the sudden he sat in the back and came to the front and he smiled at me."
"He stopped in the middle of the pulpit, pulled the gun out and it just jammed."
After troopers responded to the emergency and Polite was taken into custody, Germany said some of the congregants stayed and spent several hours supporting one another as they processed the terrifying event that took place.
"We stayed until 5 p.m. trying to decipher the whole situation," recalled Germany.
"We were all ignorant as to why he came in. No one knew him."
"I really thank God because I was informed after church the police were at his house and found (a relative) shot to death."
NBC News reported that Polite was charged with criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. He was arraigned around 1:15 a.m., Monday, denied bail, and was held at Allegheny County Jail.
Sunday evening at around 8:15 p.m., the Allegheny County Police Department reported that they found a man who was fatally shot inside the suspect's home before the attempted shooting at the church.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office identified the victim as a relative, Derek Polite, 56, of North Braddock.
Police spokesperson Jim Madalinsky told NBC:
"At this point, no charges have been filed in connection with the homicide and it remains an active investigation."
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