Man who killed cousin, terrorized North Braddock pastor, pleads guilty but mentally ill

Derek and Bernard Polite Jr. were cousins, but Derek always treated the younger man like a son, regularly welcoming Bernard into his North Braddock home when he needed a place to stay over the last 15 years.

That, their family said on Monday, is what makes it so much harder to understand what happened.

On Monday, Bernard Polite, 27, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to third-degree murder for killing his 56-year-old cousin, as well as to attempted homicide for trying to kill the pastor of a North Braddock church that same day.

As part of the plea agreement, Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jill E. Rangos ordered Polite to serve 20 to 60 years in state prison.

The victim’s family expressed frustration at Polite that he didn’t seek help for his mental health. They all asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence.

“Derek welcomed you into his home and treated you like a son,” Derek’s sister, Desiree Polite, said. “My biggest question is why? Why?”

As she asked the question, the Polite family sobbed in the gallery.

By pleading guilty but mentally ill, under Pennsylvania law, Polite is ensured to receive treatment while incarcerated.

The defendant’s mother, Yaneissa Delvalle, told the court her son has schizophrenia.

“He is more than this tragedy,” she said. “Bernard is not beyond help. He is not beyond redemption.

“See him for who he is beyond the worst moment of his life.”

Not ‘grounded in reality’

Around 1 p.m. on May 5, 2024, Pastor Glenn Germany was giving his sermon at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church when Bernard Polite walked through the front door with a gun.

Polite pulled the trigger, but the gun misfired, said Assistant District Attorney Chase Stelzer.

A deacon tackled Polite, and Germany held him there until police arrived.

In the meantime, later that day, Derek Polite’s family became worried when they couldn’t reach him.

Two relatives went to his home at 578 Stokes Ave. in North Braddock. They found him dead.

He had been shot in the head.

Ballistics matched the gun recovered at the church to the bullet used to kill Derek Polite, Stelzer said.

According to defense attorney Leslie Perlow, Bernard Polite expressed remorse from the beginning and cooperated with investigators.

At the time of the shooting, his mother said, her son was having a severe psychotic episode.

Neighbors told police they had seen Bernard Polite pacing outside the house that morning before hearing a sound that could have been a gunshot.

“He wasn’t grounded in reality,” Delvalle said.

After his arrest, Polite was evaluated at the jail and then sent to Torrance State Hospital for treatment.

Since then, Perlow said, he has stabilized.

“He’s been doing really well,” she said.

Father of four

Almost every person who spoke about Derek Polite on Monday mentioned his smile.

“All teeth. All heart,” his daughter, Chondra Foster, said. “A laugh that made you feel like everything is going to be OK.”

They also talked about his charisma, kindness and sense of humor.

Derek, they said, was the glue that held their family together.

“Derek was a chamber of my heart that’s now missing,” said his sister, Desiree Polite.

There were three siblings — Desiree, Derek and his twin sister, Dierdra, who grew up together after their parents died when they were young, she said.

“The three amigos,” Desiree told the court.

Derek Polite, 56, was the father of four and a grandfather of six.

“It was his ability to fill up an entire room just by walking into it,” his daughter, Lahyana Gethers, said. “He didn’t need much to keep him happy in this life. His people, his peace and his purpose.”

‘I felt fear’

Germany told the court he recognized that the moment he saw Bernard Polite in his church that day, something was wrong.

After Polite was taken to the floor, Germany said he held him down for 20 minutes while waiting for police to arrive. During that time, Germany said they spoke, and he learned Polite’s life story.

Then, after the arrest, Germany said he visited Polite in jail.

In their conversations in jail, the pastor said, Polite continued to threaten him — telling Germany that he wanted to kill him.

“I felt fear,” he said. “Do I forgive him? Yes, I do. Do I want him to get help? Yes, I do.”

But he also wants him to go to prison.

“I still feel threatened,” Germany said. “I don’t want to live life looking over my back.”

Seeking mercy

Bernard Polite spoke only briefly.

“Obviously, I can’t change that now, but I apologize,” he said.

His mother, though, urged the judge to show her son mercy.

“I’m not here to excuse Bernard’s actions,” she said. “He’s taken responsibility. He’s shown deep remorse.’

Delvalle said her son is a kind-hearted, respectful man with a gentle soul who took pride in doing the right thing.

“He still has a heart that wants to help even from where he is,” she said.

Three of Bernard Polite’s relatives had schizophrenia, as well.

“I have seen how unpredictable and devastating it can be,” Delvalle said.

She told the court that she understands her son must face the consequences of his action.

But she urged Rangos to allow him to continue to receive treatment in prison.

“I’m asking for mercy,” Delvalle said. “Thank you for seeing Bernard as a human being who is still worthy of compassion.”