An Upper Pottsgrove police officer has been charged with voluntary manslaughter after prosecutors said he fatally shot a 22-year-old college student who had knocked on the wrong door.
Upper Pottsgrove Police Cpl. Sean Farrell faces a voluntary manslaughter charge in the Aug. 23 shooting of Glenwood Earl Pysher IV, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced Tuesday.
According to officials, Pysher had been out at a bar with friends early that morning, then decided to walk to a friend’s house but went to the wrong address. The homeowners reported a possible break-in. A criminal complaint states Pysher sent friends a photo of the house, and when they realized he was at the wrong location he shared his location so they could pick him up.
Upper Pottsgrove police officer used deadly force
Before friends arrived, Farrell encountered Pysher on a back patio, according to the complaint. Officials said Pysher was unarmed. Although Farrell had a Taser and baton, investigators said he immediately drew his firearm.
Body camera video shows Farrell ordered Pysher to raise his hands and get on the ground, Steele said. The complaint says Pysher put his hands up and walked toward the officer.
Farrell told him to get down two more times and then shouted, “stop or I’ll,” before firing two shots, according to the complaint. Pysher was about 17 to 20 feet away when he was shot.
The complaint notes that Farrell later told another officer that Pysher charged him while yelling and refusing commands. Steele said the video review did not support that account.
“The young man has his hands up. He does not have a weapon. He did not charge or act aggressively,” Steele said, adding that Pysher was intoxicated but complying with instructions to raise his hands.
Investigators wrote that Farrell was a safe distance away, behind cover, as Pysher approached with his hands in the air, and alleged the officer used deadly force unreasonably without considering less-lethal options.
Pysher’s parents told reporters last week their son was a well-liked “good kid” who was set to begin classes at Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey this week. His funeral was held Monday.
“They are trying very hard to understand why this happened,” Steele said.
Farrell surrendered to county detectives Tuesday and was expected to be arraigned that evening. Bail was set at 75,000 dollars, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10.
Ken Fulginiti, the family’s attorney, said they want answers about how a routine situation turned deadly. “The family is very interested to make sure there is justice,” he said.
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