Derek Polite, 56, was found dead at his North Braddock, Pennsylvania, home on May 5, 2024, from a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Family members discovered him on the stairs after seeing news reports about a related incident that same day. Investigators determined the fatal shot occurred around 10 a.m. while Derek was ascending from the first to the second floor; neighbors reported a sound consistent with a gunshot at that time.

Earlier that afternoon, about 1 p.m., Derek’s 26-year-old cousin Bernard Junior Polite entered Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church, aimed a handgun at Pastor Glenn Germany and tried to fire; the weapon malfunctioned and did not discharge. A deacon, Clarence McCallister, tackled Bernard and, with the pastor, subdued him until police arrived. Ballistic testing linked the projectile recovered from Derek to the handgun Bernard had at the church. Bernard has been charged with criminal homicide and is being held in the Allegheny County Jail. The motive for the residence shooting remains unclear and investigators report no sign of a prior disturbance.

Did anyone in the North Braddock community see or hear anything that morning around 10 a.m. at the Stokes Avenue residence?