A subject tries to shoot a pastor in a church during mass

Pennsylvania (AP).- A man who tried to shoot a pastor during a mass at a Pennsylvania church because “God told him to do it” failed due to problems with his gun before being subdued by a parishioner, authorities reported.

The chaos at the Morada de Jesús Church in North Braddock occurred Sunday during the live broadcast of Mass, state police said in a news release.

Bernard J. Polite, 26, of Braddock, entered the church shortly after 1 p.m. and walked toward the Rev. Glenn Germany, who was delivering a sermon, police said. The pastor told WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh that Polite smiled at him and they made eye contact just before the attacker pointed the gun at him. But Germany moved out of the way when a parishioner lunged at Polite.

Germany and the parishioners then together tried to take the gun from Polite, who was soon subdued and held until police arrived.

Polite argued that “God told me to do it” and that he planned to shoot Germany and “wait to be arrested” so he could go to prison and clear his head, according to court documents. He faces several charges, including aggravated assault and attempted murder, and was being held without bond at the Allegheny County Jail on Monday. It is unknown if Polite has an attorney to comment on his legal status.

Police indicated that they found a man dead with a gunshot wound in a house, located near the church, where Polite was shortly before trying to shoot the pastor. The coroner’s office identified him as Derek Polite, 56, of North Braddock, but did not clarify whether he was related to Bernard Polite.

Polite was not known at the church, authorities said. He approached the church after hearing music coming from there, according to court documents.