Who Is Sean Farrell? Pennsylvania Police Officer Voluntary Manslaughter Case

Sean Farrell is a 58-year-old corporal with the Upper Pottsgrove Township Police Department in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, who was charged with voluntary manslaughter on September 1, 2026, in the fatal police shooting of 22-year-old college student Glenwood Earl “Bubba” Pysher IV. Prosecutors say Pysher had accidentally gone to the wrong house after a night out with friends and was unarmed with his hands raised when Farrell shot him twice in the chest. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said body-camera footage contradicted Farrell’s claim that Pysher had charged him and concluded that the shooting was not a lawful use of deadly force.

Sean Farrell Charged With Voluntary Manslaughter

Farrell Was Charged On September 1, 2026. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced that Farrell would face a voluntary manslaughter charge stemming from Pysher’s August 23 death. [AP] [CBS Philadelphia]

Farrell Is A Corporal With The Upper Pottsgrove Township Police Department. Prosecutors identified the 58-year-old as the officer who responded to the 911 call and fired the fatal shots. [ABC News] [Philadelphia Inquirer]

The District Attorney Said The Shooting Was Not Legally Justified. Steele said investigators concluded Pysher posed no threat when Farrell fired and that the officer had less-lethal options available. [AP] [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Glenwood “Bubba” Pysher Goes To Wrong House

Pysher Was 22 Years Old. He was a college student at Saint Elizabeth University in Morris Township, New Jersey. [ABC News]

Pysher Had Been Out Drinking With Friends. Prosecutors said he had been celebrating with friends before the group was driven to a residence by a designated driver. [6ABC] [AP]

Pysher Tried To Walk To Another Friend’s Home. Steele said he became confused while walking in the dark and mistakenly approached a different residence on Snyder Road in Upper Pottsgrove Township. [6ABC] [ABC News]

The Homeowners Believed Someone Was Trying To Break In. They called 911 after Pysher knocked or banged on the rear door of the home. [Philadelphia Inquirer] [CBS Philadelphia]

Farrell Responds To The 911 Call

Farrell Was The First Officer To Arrive. Police were dispatched at approximately 12:29 a.m. on August 23 following the report of a possible break-in. [Patch] [6ABC]

Farrell Encountered Pysher Outside The Home. Prosecutors say the interaction unfolded very quickly after Farrell arrived. [CBS Philadelphia]

Body Camera Shows Pysher With Hands Raised

Prosecutors Say Pysher Followed Farrell’s Commands. Steele said the body-camera recording showed Pysher with his hands up as the officer confronted him. [ABC News] [AP]

Pysher Was Unarmed. Investigators did not recover a weapon from him and prosecutors say he did not threaten Farrell with any object. [AP] [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Steele Said Pysher Did Not Charge The Officer. The district attorney said the video does not show Pysher rushing toward Farrell or acting aggressively immediately before he was shot. [ABC News]

Prosecutors Say Pysher Was Approximately 17 To 20 Feet Away. Farrell was positioned behind a vehicle when he opened fire, according to the prosecution’s account. [AP]

Farrell Shoots Pysher Twice

Farrell Fired Two Shots Into Pysher’s Chest. Both rounds struck the 22-year-old in the torso. [6ABC] [AP]

Pysher Died From The Gunshot Wounds. The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office ruled his death a homicide. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Prosecutors Say Less-Lethal Options Were Available

Farrell Was Carrying A Taser. Steele said Farrell had a less-lethal weapon available on his duty belt but did not use it before firing his handgun. [AP] [Philadelphia Inquirer]

The District Attorney Said Pysher Was Not A Threat To The Homeowners. They remained inside the residence, while Farrell was outside with Pysher when the shots were fired. [ABC News]

Steele Said Pysher Was Not Attempting To Escape Or Commit A Forcible Felony. Prosecutors cited those circumstances in explaining why they concluded deadly force was unlawful. [ABC News]

Farrell’s Account Contradicted By Video

Farrell Allegedly Told Another Officer That Pysher Charged Him. After the shooting, Farrell said Pysher had moved toward him while screaming and yelling, according to Steele. [ABC News]

Prosecutors Say The Body Camera Does Not Support That Account. Steele said the footage did not depict Pysher charging and did not capture screaming or yelling before the shooting. [ABC News]

Sean Farrell Arrest And Bail

Farrell Turned Himself In After Charges Were Filed. He surrendered following the district attorney’s announcement of the voluntary manslaughter charge. [AP]

Farrell Was Released On $75,000 Bail. He posted bail following his arraignment and was released while the case proceeds. [AP]

Preliminary Hearing

Farrell’s Preliminary Hearing Is Scheduled For September 10. The hearing will determine whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence for the voluntary manslaughter charge to proceed toward trial. [AP]

Who Was Glenwood “Bubba” Pysher?

Pysher Was Preparing To Return To College. His family said he attended Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey and was expected to begin the new academic year shortly after his death. [ABC News]

His Family Said He Had Simply Become Lost. Pysher’s mother, Erin Pysher, said her son made a wrong turn while trying to walk to a friend’s house after a night out. [ABC News]

Pysher’s Family Has Called The Shooting Preventable. His relatives thanked prosecutors for pursuing charges and said they hope the criminal case brings accountability for his death. [AP]

Case Status

Farrell Is Charged With Voluntary Manslaughter But Has Not Been Convicted. The case is at an early stage following his September 1 arraignment. [AP]

Prosecutors Are Relying Heavily On Body-Camera Evidence. The Montgomery County Detective Bureau reviewed Farrell’s body-worn camera footage during the investigation, and Steele cited it directly when announcing the charge. [AP] [ABC News]

The Charge Remains An Allegation. Farrell is accused of unlawfully killing Pysher, but guilt has not yet been determined in court.