ABSTRACT

Upper Pottsgrove Police Cpl. Sean Farrell, 58, was charged with voluntary manslaughter on Tuesday in the Aug. 23 death of 22-year-old Glenwood Earl Pysher IV, who had mistakenly gone to the wrong house late at night and was waiting for friends to retrieve him, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced.

New York Post

Pennsylvania officer charged with voluntary manslaughter in fatal shooting of 22-year-old at wrong house

Sep 1, 2026, 5:03 PM

Context

Farrell was the first officer on scene after a resident called 911 to report someone trying to break into the back door of a home. Body-worn camera footage reviewed by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau showed Farrell walking down the driveway with his gun drawn. Standing behind a car in the driveway, Farrell spotted Pysher on the home's patio near the back door and yelled, 'Police, let me see your hands,' followed by, 'Hands up, hands up now, drop to the ground,' according to the district attorney's office.

Pysher is seen on the video raising his hands and walking toward the officer. As Pysher continued walking forward, Farrell again yelled, 'Drop to the ground,' then yelled, 'Stop or I'll…' Before finishing the sentence, Farrell fired two shots, striking Pysher twice in the chest, the district attorney's office said. Pysher was 17 to 20 feet — 5 to 6 meters — from Farrell when he was shot.

The investigation found that Pysher had been at several bars earlier that evening to celebrate a friend's 21st birthday. A designated driver brought the group to the birthday person's home around 11 p.m. About half an hour later, Pysher left to walk half a mile to another friend's house but ended up at the wrong address, according to the district attorney's office.

Farrell turned himself in to Montgomery County Detectives on Tuesday. Magisterial District Judge Kathleen Rebar set bail at $75,000 and ordered Farrell to surrender all weapons to state police as a condition of release. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10.

All Perspectives

Montgomery County DA Kevin Steele: "The investigation found that Cpl. Farrell had less-than-lethal options on his utility belt that he did not employ, including a taser. At the time of the shooting, the officer was a safe distance from Pysher behind a car, and the victim had his hands in the air and did not possess any type of weapon. Mr. Pysher was not a threat. This is not a legal use of deadly force, leading to the charge of Voluntary Manslaughter."

Pysher family attorney Ken Fulginiti: "The family is grateful for the work of the Montgomery County District Attorney's office and they are looking forward to justice in this horribly tragic, preventable and reckless conduct that took the life of their son."

Pysher's father, Glen Pysher: Glen Pysher told the Associated Press that, based on what his son's friends told him, his son tried to enter what he thought was his friend's house: "He tried to open the doorknob and obviously startled the homeowner. From what we understand, he announced, 'Hey! Open the door!' because he thought he was at his friend's house." The father said his son then sat on the back porch, contacted his friends, who realized he was at the wrong place and set out to find him.

Position not represented in the source reporting: Cpl. Sean Farrell.

Gaps & Unknowns

The source does not state whether Cpl. Farrell has entered a plea or issued a public statement in response to the charge.
The source does not name an attorney for Farrell or indicate whether he has retained legal representation.
The source does not state the specific college Pysher attended or his relationship to Upper Pottsgrove Township.
The source does not state what charge, if any, the homeowner who called 911 may face.
The source does not specify the exact time of the shooting on Aug. 23.
The source does not indicate Farrell's current employment status with Upper Pottsgrove Police.

Sources & Further Reading

New York Post — original

Read the original at New York Post

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