A Pennsylvania police officer has been charged with voluntary manslaughter for fatally shooting an unarmed college student who had knocked at the wrong house after leaving a bar. Cpl. Sean Farrell shot 22-year-old Glenwood Earl Pysher as he walked towards him with his hands up, prosecutors said.
The case highlights concerns about the appropriate use of force by law enforcement and the potential for tragic misunderstandings to escalate to fatal encounters.
A Pennsylvania police officer has been charged with voluntary manslaughter for fatally shooting an unarmed college student who had knocked at the wrong house after leaving a bar. Upper Pottsgrove Police Cpl. Sean Farrell, 58, shot 22-year-old Glenwood Earl Pysher as he walked towards the officer with his hands up, prosecutors said, citing body camera footage. Farrell arrived at the scene after the homeowner called police, as Pysher had mistakenly knocked on the wrong door while looking for friends. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele stated that the investigation found Pysher was about 20ft away from Farrell when the officer opened fire, and that Farrell had less-lethal options, including a Taser, which he did not employ. Steele concluded that the use of lethal force was not legally justified. Pysher's parents described their son as a caring and loving individual who was days away from returning to college. Farrell turned himself in and was released on $75,000 bail.