Pennsylvania police officer charged with voluntary manslaughter in killing of college student

A Pennsylvania police officer, Sean Farrell, 58, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old college student, Glenwood Earl Pysher IV, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. The incident occurred on August 23 when Farrell, responding to a 911 call about a possible break-in, encountered Pysher at the wrong house.

The officer, armed and at a safe distance behind a car, yelled for Pysher to drop to the ground, but Pysher raised his hands and began walking toward Farrell. Despite having less-than-lethal options available, including a taser, Farrell fired two shots, hitting Pysher twice in the chest. The Montgomery County Detective Bureau investigated the shooting after reviewing footage from Farrell's body-worn camera, which confirmed that Pysher was not a threat and had his hands in the air.

Farrell's attorney stated that the family appreciated the District Attorney's work and looked forward to justice in what they called a "horribly tragic, preventable, and reckless conduct."