Gunman Disrupts Church Service, Attempts to Shoot Pastor in Pennsylvania

North Braddock, Pennsylvania United States of America
Bernard Polite disrupted church service at Jesus' Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, PA on May 5, 2024.
Bernard Polite is in police custody, facing charges of aggravated assault and attempted homicide.
Body of Derek Polite found in Bernard's home later that day. Authorities investigating connection between incidents.
Church members intervened and tackled Polite before he could fire the weapon.
Pastor Germany noticed suspect moving from back of church with gun aimed at him, but gun jammed before shot was fired.
Polite pulled out a gun and attempted to shoot Pastor Glenn Germany during the sermon.
Suspect later revealed he had been dealing with 'spirits' telling him to open fire.
Gunman Disrupts Church Service, Attempts to Shoot Pastor in Pennsylvania

In a shocking incident on May 5, 2024, a church service in North Braddock, Pennsylvania was disrupted when a man identified as Bernard Polite pulled out a gun and attempted to shoot Pastor Glenn Germany during his sermon at Jesus' Dwelling Place Church. Church members intervened and tackled Polite to the ground before he could fire the weapon. The pastor had noticed the suspect moving from the back of the church to the front, brandishing a gun, and aiming it at him. In a miraculous turn of events, no shot was fired as Pastor Germany ducked just in time and Polite's gun jammed. Bernard Polite is currently in police custody and faces charges of aggravated assault and attempted homicide. The suspect later revealed to the pastor that he had been dealing with 'spirits' telling him to open fire. In a separate incident, the body of a man identified as Derek Polite was found in Bernard's home later that day. Authorities are investigating whether there is a connection between the two incidents.



Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Is there a confirmed connection between Bernard Polite and Derek Polite?

Sources

98%

  • Unique Points
    • A man, identified as Bernard Polite, pulled a gun on Pastor Glenn Germany during his sermon at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, Pennsylvania on May 5, 2024.
    • No shot was fired as Pastor Germany ducked and Deacon Clarence McCallister tackled the man to the ground.
    • Bernard Polite is currently in police custody and faces charges of aggravated assault and attempted homicide.
    • The victim of a separate shooting, identified as Derek Polite, was found dead inside Bernard Polite’s home later that day.
  • Accuracy
    • ]A man, identified as Bernard Polite, pulled a gun on Pastor Glenn Germany during his sermon at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, Pennsylvania on May 5, 2024.[
    • During the service, Polite moved from the back of the church to the front and aimed a gun at Pastor Germany. Church members intervened, tackling Polite and removing the gun.
    • A man named Bernard Polite aimed a gun at a pastor during a church service in Pennsylvania.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority when it states 'Police investigating connection between deadly shooting and man who pulled gun on pastor at Pennsylvania State Police have charged 26-year-old Bernard Polite of Braddock and say he entered and attempted to shoot pastor Glenn Germany while the pastor was delivering a sermon at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church on Sunday just after 1 p.m.' This statement implies that the police are a reliable source of information, but it does not provide any evidence or reasoning for why Polite is guilty of attempting to shoot the pastor. Additionally, there are several instances of inflammatory rhetoric used to describe the events, such as 'upended', 'deadly shooting', and 'attempted homicide'. However, these phrases do not necessarily constitute fallacies on their own.
    • Police investigating connection between deadly shooting and man who pulled gun on pastor at Pennsylvania State Police have charged 26-year-old Bernard Polite of Braddock and say he entered and attempted to shoot pastor Glenn Germany while the pastor was delivering a sermon at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church on Sunday just after 1 p.m.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

  • Unique Points
    • A man, identified as Bernard Polite, allegedly pulled a gun on Pastor Glenn Germany during a church service at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock.
    • During the service, Polite moved from the back of the church to the front and aimed a gun at Pastor Germany. Church members intervened, tackling Polite and removing the gun.
    • Neighbors reported that Bernard and Derek were related and there were no prior issues or incidents at the residence.
  • Accuracy
    • No shot was fired as Pastor Germany ducked and Deacon Clarence McCallister tackled the man to the ground.
    • Bernard Polite is currently in police custody and faces charges of aggravated assault and attempted homicide.
    • The victim of a separate shooting, identified as Derek Polite, was found dead inside Bernard Polite’s home later that day.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (90%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy. The suspect, Bernard Polite, claims that God told him to try and shoot the pastor. This statement is not supported by any evidence or logical reasoning and is instead based on Bernard's personal belief.
    • According to the criminal complaint, Polite confessed to police that he tried to shoot Germany because, “God told him to do it”," and that he wanted to go to jail to clear his mind.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

  • Unique Points
    • A man named Bernard Polite aimed a gun at a pastor during a church service in Pennsylvania.
    • Bernard Polite was tackled by a member of the congregation after pointing the gun at the pastor.
  • Accuracy
    • ]A man named Bernard Polite aimed a gun at a pastor during a church service in Pennsylvania.[
    • Bernard Polite is currently in police custody and faces charges of aggravated assault and attempted homicide.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

  • Unique Points
    • A gunman, Bernard Polite, attempted to shoot pastor Glenn Germany during a sermon at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, PA on Sunday.
    • Polite was tackled by a churchgoer and disarmed by the pastor and deacon until police arrived.
    • Germany was not shot during the incident as the gun jammed.
    • Polite later revealed to Germany in custody that he had been dealing with ‘spirits’ telling him to open fire.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. It also uses a dichotomous depiction of the suspect's actions. No formal or informal fallacies were found in direct quotes from the author.
    • . . . he set up in the front corner of the church and smiled at me.
    • German miraculously wasn’t shot during the ordeal after the gun jammed.
    • The exact relationship between Polite and the victim wasn’t immediately known but local outlets reported the church gunman lived there with his uncle.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication