A police officer from Upper Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter following an incident in which he allegedly shot and fatally wounded a college student who mistakenly approached the wrong residence.
Corporal Sean Farrell of the Upper Pottsgrove Police Department has been charged with the voluntary manslaughter of 22-year-old Glenwood Earl Pysher IV, as announced on Tuesday by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. The shooting occurred on August 23.
According to authorities, Pysher, after a night out at a bar with friends, knocked on the door of an incorrect home. This prompted the residents to contact law enforcement, believing there was an attempted break-in. A criminal complaint indicates that Pysher had previously shared a photo of the house with his friends, who then realized he was at the wrong location and were en route to assist him.
Before his friends could arrive, Pysher was encountered by Farrell on a back patio. Reports indicate that Pysher was unarmed at the time. Although Farrell had a taser and a baton available, he opted to draw his firearm instead, as detailed by Steele and the complaint.
Body camera footage reportedly shows Farrell issuing commands to Pysher to raise his hands and lie on the ground. According to the evidence, Pysher complied by raising his hands and approaching Farrell. The officer ordered him to get down two additional times and then shouted, “stop or I’ll—” before firing two shots at Pysher, who was positioned approximately 17 to 20 feet away.
Furthermore, the complaint notes that Farrell later claimed to another officer that Pysher had charged at him while screaming and refusing to comply. However, Steele stated that the video evidence contradicted Farrell’s assertion.
“The young man had his hands raised, was unarmed, did not act aggressively, and posed no threat to the homeowners. Although he was inebriated, he was responsive to commands,” Steele remarked. “He was neither attempting to flee nor had he committed a serious crime.”
Additionally, the complaint highlighted that Farrell was in a secure position behind cover while Pysher approached with his hands raised, suggesting that Farrell’s use of lethal force was unwarranted and that he failed to consider less harmful alternatives.
In an interview with CBS News, Pysher’s parents expressed their devastation over the loss of their son, describing him as a beloved member of the community. He was set to begin his studies at Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey.
“They are struggling to comprehend the circumstances surrounding their son’s tragic death,” Steele added.
Farrell surrendered to Montgomery County authorities on Tuesday and is expected to be arraigned later that evening.
