Pennsylvania officer charged in death of student who knocked at wrong door

A Pennsylvania police officer has been charged with voluntary manslaughter for fatally shooting an unarmed college student who had knocked at the wrong house after leaving a bar.

Body camera footage showed Upper Pottsgrove Police Cpl Sean Farrell shot 22-year-old Glenwood Earl Pysher as he walked towards him with hands up, as Farrell had instructed him to do, prosecutors said.

Farrell, 58, arrived at the scene in the early hours on 23 August after Pysher knocked at the wrong door while looking for his friends, prompting the homeowner to call police.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele told a news conference: "This is not a legal use of lethal force."

The investigation found that Pysher had been out at some pubs earlier in the evening to celebrate a friend's 21st birthday. Later in the night he walked to a friend's house to continue drinking, but ended up at the wrong address.

Pysher tried to open the door, before sitting down on the back porch to contact his friends.

The homeowner called 911 and Farrell arrived while Pysher was on the rear patio, according to the criminal complaint.

"Police, let me see your hands," Farrell shouted, according to investigators. "Hands up, hands up now, drop to the ground."

Body camera footage showed Pysher raise his hands in the air and walk towards Farrell, as the officer shouted again: "Drop to the ground."

"Stop or I'll…," said Farrell before firing two shots, hitting Pysher twice in the chest, according to the criminal complaint.

Officials said Pysher was about 20ft (6m) away from Farrell when he opened fire.

"The investigation found that Cpl Farrell had less-than-lethal options on his utility belt that he did not employ, including a Taser," the district attorney said in a news release.

According to the criminal complaint, body camera video showed Farrell later telling another officer: "The guy [expletive] charged me, screaming and yelling and wouldn't get down on the ground."

Prosecutors said that version of events is contradicted by the camera footage.

Farrell turned himself in on Tuesday. His bail was set at $75,000 (£55,500) and the next hearing is due on 10 September.

Pysher's parents last week said their son was "a very caring, loving kid", who was just days away from returning to college.