Officer charged in deadly police shooting of 22-year-old Glenwood Pysher in Upper Pottsgrove

UPPER POTTSGROVE, Pa. - A Montgomery County police officer has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after fatally shooting 22-year-old Glenwood Pysher during a late-night encounter outside a home in Upper Pottsgrove last month.

Glenwood Pysher shot by police

What we know:

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steel announced charges against Officer Sean Farrell, and shared more information about the encounter with Pysher that led to the deadly shooting.

Investigators say Pysher had been out with friends celebrating a 21st birthday when he was driven to a friend's house. Pysher then decided to walk to another friend's house on nearby Snyder Avenue, but investigators say he accidentally went to the wrong address.

When Pysher began banging on the door, investigators say the homeowners called 911 in fear of a break-in. Officer Sean Farrell was the first to arrive at the scene and began to walk up the driveway, positioning himself behind a parked car with his service weapon drawn.

District Attorney Kevin Steel said Farrell identified himself as police and told Pysher to put his hands up and get down on the ground. Investigators say body camera footage shows Pysher, who was unarmed, with his hands up in the air and slowly walking towards Farrell.

That's when investigators say Farrell shot Pysher twice, killing him. When another officer arrived at the scene, investigators say Farrell was captured on body camera claiming that Pysher was screaming and charged at him.

Farrell charged with involuntary manslaughter

Dig deeper:

Steel announced on Tuesday that Farrell has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and has already turned himself in.

He was arraigned Tuesday and bail was set at $75,000.

"At the time these two fatal shots were fired, Mr. Pysher had his hands up, he had no weapon, he did not charge the officer or act aggressively in any way, he was not a threat to the homeowners who were inside their residence," Steele said. "He was apparently inebriated, but was complying with police orders to put his hands up when he was fatally shot, he was not trying to escape, and he did not commit a forceable felony. This is not a legal use of lethal force under Pennsylvania law."

FOX 29 spoke with the attorney representing the Pysher family, Ken Fulginiti, about the fatal incident.

"Two minutes before this happened, Glenwood was on the phone with his friends, video chatting with them because the thought he was at his friend’s house," says Fulginiti. "No reason whatsoever for Bubba to be shot that morning, so there is still a lot of questions as to why this happened, and why it went down, but at least the camera doesn’t lie."

Family reaction and statements from key figures

Local perspective:

Pysher was laid to rest on Monday, August 31.

"There was a tremendous outpouring of about 1500 people or so which was great support for the family to see," said Fulginiti. "They were glad to hear that their son did what they would expect he would have done when approached by a police officer was comply."

Steele said body camera footage contradicted Farrell's claim. "Corporal Farrell told the officer, and I’m quoting, from the body camera, the guy f------ charged me screaming and yelling and wouldn’t get down on the ground...the body-worn camera does not depict Pysher charging."

Fulginiti described the family's ongoing questions: "When you have a situation where this officer was behind a car, who was 17 to 20 feet away from Glenwood...he had his hands in the air and wasn't doing anything threatening...he was simply complying so they certainly have more questions as to why...it escalated to this."

In an online obituary, Pysher was described as polite and kind, with a beautiful smile and funny laugh.

What we don't know:

It is unclear what further action, if any, the department or officer will take in response to these charges. The full investigative findings have not been detailed beyond what was shared by the district attorney.

Montgomery CountyCrime & Public SafetyNews