Video: Man tries to shoot pastor in USA

Hours before Bernard Polite allegedly tried to kill a Pennsylvania pastor in front of his congregation Sunday, the suspect shot and killed his cousin in his home, police said.

Polite, 26, is now charged with criminal homicide in the death of Derek Polite, 56, and is awaiting arraignment. Although the two were cousins, the suspect often referred to Derek Polite as his “uncle,” said Allegheny County Police Superintendent Christopher Kearns.

The motive for the murder in North Braddock remains unclear, Kearns said.

“There is no evidence that there was any type of disturbance at the residence. We saw no evidence that there was any kind of fight,” he said. “It appears the victim was shot while climbing the stairs from the first to the second floor.”

Ballistics tests revealed that the gun used to kill Derek Polite was the same one recovered Sunday at nearby Jesus' Dwelling Place Church, where Bernard Polite allegedly pointed a gun in Pastor Glenn Germany's face and pulled the trigger, police said.

But the bullet got stuck in the gun's chamber and a church deacon managed to attack the shooter before he could fire another shot.

See the moment:

The pastor told the CNN who was shocked to see how he narrowly missed being shot in the head, as the same weapon had proven deadly earlier in the day.

“The gun worked when he shot his cousin to death,” Germany said.

“When he went down to the church, it was the same gun. And he pulled the trigger,” said the pastor. “I thank God the gun jammed. The police officer showed us why he took the (bullet) out of the chamber. She was trapped in the chamber. You can see the dents in the bullet where it got stuck.”

After the church deacon disarmed the shooter, Germany held the suspect to the ground and told him he forgave him before police arrived and arrested him early Sunday afternoon.

Bernard Polite faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the church incident, court records show.

After learning about the incident at the church on Sunday, concerned relatives went to the cousins' home to check on Derek Polite “and discovered him dead inside,” Allegheny County police said.

The police chief said a combination of ballistics evidence and witness statements helped link suspect Bernard Polite to both crime scenes.

“A witness of his was on the porch of the residence just before 10 a.m.,” Kearns said. “We had another witness who heard what he believed to be a gunshot around 10am.”

Bernard Polite remains in custody at the Allegheny County Jail. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Monday (13).