In a ceremony befitting North America's highest civilian honor for heroism, Clarence McCallister, a deacon from North Braddock church, will be awarded the prestigious Carnegie Medal. As reported by TribLive, McCallister's swift intervention during a May 5 service at Jesus' Dwelling Place Church prevented what could have been a deadly shooting. According to accounts, when 26-year-old gunman Bernard Polite aimed and pulled the trigger at Pastor Glenn A. Germany, his gun failed to fire, precipitating McCallister's courageous actions.
Despite not being a part of church security, McCallister, who was documenting the service, covered a short distance hurdles over a railing and pinned the perpetrator to the ground. The struggle continued until McCallister was able to get the firearm. The pastor then restrained Polite until law enforcement arrived about 20 minutes later, and the incident was streamed live on Facebook. "Once he pointed the gun at his head, I just jumped into action, a reaction," McCallister stated, as per TribLive report. Neither McCallister nor Germany was injured during the altercation, and McCallister's commendation ceremony is set for the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission's board meeting on December 10.
Additionally, as detailed in WPXI's coverage, McCallister, a heavy equipment repair specialist by trade, has long been a committee member of Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church. His actions that day were driven by instinct, quickly engaging and subduing Polite with what he calls his "leap of faith." “I was running the camera and as I was running the camera, I saw the pistol in his hand that’s when I tackled him, or I like to say took my leap of faith,” McCallister explained, recalling the harrowing Sunday service.
You can visit their official site for more information about the Carnegie Hero Fund and its awards.
