Bernard Junior Polite, 26, was charged with the murder of his cousin after an attempted attack on a Pennsylvania church where he tried to kill the pastor with a gun that misfired. Polite entered the Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, sat near the front, and then approached the pastor with a drawn handgun. The gun misfired when he attempted to shoot the pastor, prompting Deacon Clarence McCallister and the pastor to subdue him before police arrived.
Polite claimed to police that he heard church music and was drawn inside, where he allegedly intended to kill the pastor in order to clear his mind in jail. Witnesses at the church heard a click when he tried to fire the gun, but the weapon failed to discharge. The pastor and deacon were able to wrestle the gun away from Polite and hold him until law enforcement arrived. Polite allegedly claimed that he was being possessed by spirits and was smiling as he was restrained.
After the church incident, Polite’s relatives called police to a nearby home where he lived with his cousin Derek Polite. Derek was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head that was consistent with the .380-caliber handgun police recovered from the church. Bernard Polite now faces murder charges in addition to attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment. He is being held without bail at the Allegheny County Jail, with an arraignment on the murder charge expected to take place soon.
Investigators found that the firing pin of the gun Polite used at the church struck the primer, but the gun failed to discharge. McCallister, who tackled Polite during the church incident, emphasized the seriousness of mental illness and the need to recognize and address it. Both McCallister and the pastor stated that they had never seen the suspect before the attack on the church, despite public records indicating that he has ties to New Jersey. The neighbor of Polite reported seeing him pacing back and forth on the porch shortly before a gunshot was heard, leading to the discovery of Derek Polite’s body.
Polite’s claims of being possessed by spirits and his apparent lack of familiarity to those at the church have raised questions about his motive and mental state. The incident has highlighted the importance of recognizing and addressing mental health issues in the community. The pastor and deacon were able to prevent a tragedy from occurring by subduing Polite, who now faces serious charges for his actions. Authorities continue to investigate the case and await the arraignment of Polite on the murder charge.
