College Student Killed by Police After Going to Wrong House
The father of a 22-year-old college student says his son was fatally shot by police in Upper Pottsgrove Township, Pennsylvania, early Sunday morning after the young man mistakenly went to the wrong house while out celebrating with friends. The shooting has prompted demands for answers and raised questions about police use of deadly force.
Glenwood “Bubba” Pysher IV was killed around 12:35 a.m. on August 23 after police responded to a 911 call about a possible attempted break-in at a residence on Snyder Road, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. AP News reported that officers arrived at 12:34 a.m. and found Pysher at the rear of the home, where an “encounter” ensued and police fired, fatally striking him.
A Deadly Mistake
Pysher had been out celebrating a friend’s 21st birthday at local bars when the group decided to move the party to a friend’s house. Walking alone in the dark through a wooded area, he made a wrong turn and ended up at a stranger’s home, believing it was his friend’s residence.
“He tried to open the doorknob and obviously startled the homeowner,” his father, Glen Pysher, told CBS News. “From what we understand, he announced, ‘Hey! Open the door!’ because he thought he was at his friend’s house.”
The homeowners inside called 911 to report a possible break-in. Pysher was unarmed, carrying only a cell phone and a backpack containing clothing and a few beers.
His mother, Erin Pysher, told 6ABC Action News that her son realized his mistake and was waiting for friends to pick him up when police arrived.
“12:32, he was on the phone with his friends. By 12:35, I believe he’s already shot,” she said. “So, within a few minutes, the cop pulled up and shot him. He was unarmed. He had a cell phone and a book bag.”
His father echoed the timeline, questioning how quickly the situation escalated.
“At 12:32 a.m. my son was on a FaceTime call with his friends that were coming to get him,” Glen Pysher said. “We were told that my son was shot at 12:35 a.m. So what kind of encounter could have ensued? What kind of communication could that officer have given him?”
Investigation Underway
The Montgomery County Detective Bureau is investigating the shooting under the county’s standard protocol for officer-involved shootings. The district attorney’s office said it will release findings when the investigation concludes.
Upper Pottsgrove Township Police Chief Al Werner declined to release any information, including the names of officers involved, until the investigation is complete. According to NBC New York, the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave. Backyard surveillance cameras at the property recorded the deadly encounter, and the footage is being reviewed as part of the investigation.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele confirmed the basic sequence of events in a statement: “Upper Pottsgrove Township Police responded to a 911 call for a possible attempted break-in at a residence on Snyder Road. The police arrived to find a male, Glenwood Pysher IV, in the rear of the residence. An encounter ensued and police fired at Pysher, fatally striking him.”
A Promising Life Cut Short
Pysher was about to begin his senior year at Saint Elizabeth University in Florham Park, New Jersey, where he planned to play baseball as a catcher. He had transferred from Northampton Community College and previously played at Francis Marion University and Holy Family University. His goal was to become a high school history teacher and baseball coach after graduation.
His mother described him as a “lovable goofball” who loved his family deeply. “He will walk in the back door and say his favorite thing, ‘Hey mom, your favorite kid is home,’” she told ABC News. “He was just happy-go-lucky. Didn’t have a care in the world, and I’m going to miss that.”
His father said the community has been devastated by the loss. “The community here loved him, and nobody can believe this happened to this young man who wouldn’t hurt a fly,” he told CBS News.
A GoFundMe organized by family friend Anthony Napoli had raised more than $29,000 toward a $40,000 goal from over 430 donations as of Wednesday, according to The Washington Times.
Questions Remain
The shooting is sharply distinguished from several other cases in which residents have shot people who mistakenly showed up at their homes. In this instance, it was police, not a homeowner, who fired the fatal shots.
Erin Pysher questioned why deadly force was used against her unarmed son. “No Taser. No nothing. Automatic deadly force,” she told CBS News. “It’s a small little error that it cost him his life. It should’ve never happened.”
His father said the family has received almost no information from police, and even a request to retrieve his son’s favorite pair of black shoes for burial was initially approved, then put on hold. “I just want things to be done right. I want to know the facts,” he said.
As the investigation continues, the family and community await answers about what exactly transpired in those final moments — and whether the use of deadly force was justified against a young man who simply knocked on the wrong door.