UPPER POTTSGROVE TOWNSHIP — Upper Pottsgrove Police Corporal Sean Farrell was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Glenwood Earl Pysher IV. The charge follows a review of body camera footage that showed Pysher raising his hands and walking toward Farrell before the officer fired two shots.

The fatal shooting occurred on August 23, 2026, in Upper Pottsgrove Township, Pennsylvania. Pysher was 22 years old at the time of his death and was unarmed during the encounter. The young man has his hands up. He does not have a weapon.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele stated that the use of lethal force was not justified in this incident. "This is not a legal use of lethal force," Steele said during a press conference addressing the charges.

Steele provided a detailed account of the events captured on video, noting that Pysher was compliant despite his condition. "He did not charge or act aggressively. He was not a threat to the homeowners. He was inebriated but listening to commands about putting his hands up," he said.

Farrell is 58 years old and turned himself in to Montgomery County detectives on Tuesday. His bail was set at $75,000 following his surrender to authorities.

A preliminary hearing for Farrell is scheduled for September 10, 2026. This court date will determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the case against the corporal.

The incident began when Glenwood Pysher knocked on the door of a residence on Snyder Road believing it was a friend's house. Homeowners inside the residence called 911 to report a possible break-in after Pysher arrived at the wrong location.

The 911 call was placed at 12:32 a.m. on the night of the shooting. Farrell was the first officer to arrive at the scene in response to the emergency call.

Farrell found Pysher on the back patio of the residence. Body camera footage shows Farrell standing behind a car in the driveway when he shot Pysher.

Pysher was 17 to 20 feet away from Farrell when he was shot. Body camera footage shows Pysher raising his hands and walking toward Farrell during the confrontation.

Farrell yelled commands for Pysher to put his hands up and drop to the ground. Despite these orders, Farrell fired two shots at Pysher before finishing the sentence "Stop or I'll.."

Farrell had a taser and a baton on his utility belt but used his pistol during the encounter. Pysher died from gunshot wounds to the chest as a result of the shooting.

The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office ruled Pysher’s death a homicide. This medical determination classified the cause of death as resulting from the actions of another person.

Body camera footage shows Farrell telling another officer that Pysher had charged him. In the recording, Farrell used profanity and stated that the individual was screaming and yelling and would not get down on the ground.

Attorney Ken Fulginiti issued a statement on behalf of Pysher’s family following the charges. The statement expressed the family's appreciation for the legal proceedings and their desire for accountability.

"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," Fulginiti said.

Why It Matters

The charging of a police officer with voluntary manslaughter represents a legal action in cases involving officer-involved shootings. The decision by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele to pursue charges hinges on the assertion that the use of lethal force was not legally justified given the circumstances shown in the body camera footage.

The case shows the role of video evidence in determining the legality of police actions. The footage reportedly shows the victim complying with commands by raising his hands, which contradicts claims of an aggressive charge. The outcome of the preliminary hearing scheduled for September 10, 2026, will determine if the case proceeds to trial based on this evidence.

Timeline

On August 23, 2026, Pysher had been out at bars celebrating a friend’s 21st birthday prior to the shooting. Later that night, body camera footage shows Pysher raising his hands and walking toward Farrell. The footage also shows Farrell standing behind a car in the driveway when he shot Pysher, who was 17 to 20 feet away at the time. Farrell fired two shots at Pysher before finishing the sentence "Stop or I'll.." Body camera footage shows Farrell telling another officer, "The guy f***ing charged me, screaming and yelling and wouldn't get down on the ground." The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office ruled Pysher’s death a homicide on August 23, 2026.

What's New

Additional reporting confirms that Pysher died from gunshot wounds to the chest.

The 911 call was placed at 12:32 a.m. Farrell is 58 years old. Pysher had previously played baseball for Northampton County Community College.

How Sources Differ

There is a discrepancy regarding the specific details of the shooting scene.