Clarence McCallister, the deacon who in May tackled a gunman allegedly attempting to shoot Pennsylvania Pastor Glenn Germany in the middle of Sunday service, received the Award for Bravery at the Fox Nation Patriot Awards on Thursday, Dec. 5.
“I want to thank everybody for having me out here. I want to thank Fox News…I want to thank my wife and I got my sisters out here supporting me,” McCallister said after walking onstage to accept the award as the audience gave him a standing ovation. “In America, here, we’re all heroes. We’re all heroes…We all have the heart to do whatever it takes that we need to do.”
The Fox Nation Patriot Awards are “an awards show celebrating patriotism by honoring everyday American heroes who have shown dedication to our nation.” President-elect Donald Trump was present at the ceremony and received the honorary Patriot of the Year award.
Fox Nation Patriot Awards Honors Clarence McCallister
On the afternoon of Sunday, May 5, Pastor Glenn Germany of Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock was preaching from 1 Peter 1:3 when a man stepped in front of him and pointed a gun directly at him. The church’s livestream captured the incident on video, showing the pastor being accosted by a man identified as 26-year-old Bernard Polite, whose gun misfired, witnesses said.
RELATED: Pastor Survives Shooting Attempt During Livestreamed Sermon
Germany flinched and took refuge behind the pulpit. Deacon Clarence McCallister was behind the camera and leapt from behind it, tackling Polite. With the help of Germany and another congregant, McCallister subdued the gunman and took his firearm.
“I heard it click, and I thought, ‘Oh, my God, thank God that gun jammed,’” McCallister said. “[Germany] ducked down, and the guy’s going after him. That’s when I leaped up out of that chair and went after the guy. I put his arms to his sides so he couldn’t move, turned him around and sat him down.”
Afterward, Germany said, “I’m thankful to God that I’m still here because [Polite] definitely pulled the trigger.” The pastor called McCallister a “hero.”
Reports indicate that Polite’s mental health was suffering. “He said that it was spirits that was talking to him,” said Germany. “It was spirits that told him to come and shoot inside the church.”
After the altercation at the church, Polite was charged with criminal homicide in relation to the death of his cousin, Derek Polite. Authorities believe Derek was killed the same morning Bernard Polite allegedly attempted to shoot Germany; ballistics evidence showed the same gun was used in both cases.
In a video that played during the ceremony prior to McCallister accepting his award, Germany said, “Anyone who knows Clarence, they know when he actually jumped into action, that was not out of character. Everybody knows that he’ll help you. He’s always been there for me.”
