Police Officer Charged with Voluntary Manslaughter in Fatal Shooting of College Student

An Upper Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania police officer, Cpl. Sean Farrell, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter. This charge comes after Farrell allegedly shot and killed 22-year-old Glenwood Earl Pysher IV, a college student who knocked on the wrong house.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced the charges on Tuesday. According to officials, Pysher had been out at a bar with friends early on August 23. He then walked to what he believed was a friend’s house, but knocked on the wrong door. This led the homeowners to report a possible break-in.

The criminal complaint explains Pysher had sent his friends a picture of the house to show where he was. Upon realizing he was at the wrong location, he also sent them his precise location so they could pick him up.

Before his friends arrived, Farrell encountered Pysher on a back patio. Pysher was unarmed at the time of the incident. Despite having a taser and a baton, Farrell opted to use his pistol.

Cpl. Sean Farrell’s actions are detailed in a criminal complaint: “This is not a legal use of lethal force,” Steele stated.

Body camera footage from the incident shows Farrell ordering Pysher to put his hands up and drop to the ground. Pysher complied by raising his hands and walking towards Farrell. Despite Farrell issuing the command two more times, the situation escalated when Farrell shot Pysher twice before finishing his warning.

The complaint states Pysher was approximately 17 to 20 feet away from Farrell when he was shot. The video further reveals Farrell later told an officer, “The guy f***ing charged me, screaming and yelling and wouldn’t get down on the ground.” However, Steele clarifies that the reviewed video showed Pysher with hands up and soberly listening to commands.

Steele emphasized, “The young man was not a threat, his hands were up, he did not have a weapon, he did not charge aggressively, and he was listening to commands.” The report also alleges that Farrell exercised deadly force without considering less lethal options.

In discussing the family’s perspective, they described Glenwood Earl Pysher IV as a well-loved individual in his community. He was set to begin studies at Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey soon.

Farrell has submitted himself to Montgomery County detectives and faces arraignment later tonight.