Pennsylvania police corporal charged with voluntary manslaughter after shooting unarmed student
Upper Pottsgrove Police Corporal Sean Farrell has been indicted on a voluntary manslaughter charge for shooting 22-year-old Glenwood Earl Pysher, who was unarmed and had his hands raised, after mistakenly knocking on a house late on Aug. 23.
A Pennsylvania police officer was indicted on a voluntary manslaughter charge for fatally shooting an unarmed 22-year-old college student who had mistakenly knocked on a residence after leaving a bar. Body-camera video shows Upper Pottsgrove Police Corporal Sean Farrell, 58, ordering the man, Glenwood Earl Pysher, to show his hands and then to drop to the ground. Pysher complied, raising his hands and walking toward the officer, who then fired two shots, striking him twice in the chest. The incident occurred on the rear patio of the house after the homeowner called 911.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said the use of lethal force was not justified and noted that Farrell had less-than-lethal tools, including a Taser, on his belt that were not used. Farrell turned himself in, was released on $75,000 bail and is scheduled for a hearing on September 10.
"This is not a legal use of lethal force," Steele told reporters.
"Police, let me see your hands," Farrell shouted, according to investigators, followed by repeated commands to drop to the ground before opening fire.