(Photo : Glenn Germany / LOCAL NEWS X /TMX)
The drama unfolded at the Jesus' Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock.
A video recording shows Pastor Glenn Germany delivering his sermon when a man suddenly appears and points a gun at the faith leader.
The gun apparently jammed and the man running the video camera, identified as church Deacon Clarence McCallister, jumped into action and wrestled the gunman to the floor.
McCallister and Germany were able to hold the man down until police arrived.
"He's a hero," Germany told CBS News of McCallister.
The violence unfolded in front of Germany's 14-year-old daughter.
"The thing that hurts me the most and brings tears to my eyes because I couldn't watch my daughter break down," Germany said.
The gunman was identified as Bernard Polite, 26, of Braddock.
Polite confessed to police that he tried to shoot Germany because, "God told him to do it," according to the criminal complaint obtained by WTAE-TV.
Police later found the body of a person who was shot to death in Polite's home.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office identified the victim as 56-year-old Derek Polite. Germany said he believes the victim was the gunman's cousin and he shot him before going to the church.
On Monday the church said, "We are so thankful and grateful to God for keeping His hands over each and everyone of us there."
