US police officer charged with manslaughter over fatal shooting of student

Mr Pysher was shot twice in the chest, prosecutors said (Erin Pysher via AP)

A Pennsylvania police officer who fatally shot a 22-year-old college student who had ended up at the wrong house late at night and was waiting for friends to pick him up has been charged with voluntary manslaughter, a prosecutor said.

Upper Pottsgrove Police Cpl Sean Farrell, 58, has been charged over the death of Glenwood Earl Pysher IV on August 23, Montgomery County district attorney Kevin Steele said.

The prosecutor said the officer had less-than-lethal options and did not need to resort to shooting Mr Pysher during the encounter.

The Montgomery County Detective Bureau investigated the shooting and reviewed footage from Farrell’s body-worn camera, the district attorney’s office said.

Mr Steele added: “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.”

Ken Fulginiti, a lawyer for Mr Pysher’s family, issued a statement thanking the prosecutor.

“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,” Mr Fulginiti said.

Farrell was the first officer on the scene after a resident called police to report someone trying to break into the back door of a home. Farrell’s body-worn camera showed the officer walking down the driveway with his gun drawn, using its light to illuminate the way, the release says.

Standing behind a car in the driveway, Farrell saw Mr Pysher on the home’s patio, near the back door.

Farrell shouted: “Police, let me see your hands.” Then he said: “Hands up, hands up now, drop to the ground.”

Mr Pysher is seen on video raising his hands as he begins walking towards the officer and continuing to walk in that direction as the officer told him: “Drop to the ground,” the release said.

Farrell again shouted: “Drop to the ground,” then said: “Stop or I’ll…” But before he finished the sentence, Farrell fired two shots, hitting Mr Pysher twice in the chest, the district attorney’s office said.

Mr Pysher was 17-20ft from the officer when he was shot, the prosecutor added.