A 22-year-old college student was killed by police in Upper Pottsgrove Township, Pennsylvania, on Sunday after he mistakenly approached the wrong house. The Montgomery County district attorney's office stated that police responded to a 911 call about a possible burglary attempt around 12:30 a.m. and found Glenwood Pysher IV at the rear of the property.
Pysher's father, Glen Pysher, said his son and friends had visited several bars and were splitting up to spend the night when his son took a wrong turn in the woods. Based on accounts from his son's friends, the elder Pysher believes his son mistakenly tried to enter what he thought was a friend's house. Glenwood Pysher was unarmed, carrying only a phone and a backpack with clothing and beverages, according to his father.
"He tried to open the doorknob and obviously startled the homeowner," the father said. "From what we understand, he announced, ‘Hey! Open the door!’ because he thought he was at his friend's house."
According to his father, Pysher then sat on the back porch and contacted his friends, who realized he was at the incorrect location and were on their way to retrieve him. Minutes later, they observed police vehicles and emergency services arriving at the scene.
"At 12:32 a.m. my son was on a FaceTime call with his friends that were coming to get him," the father stated. "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?"
A dispatch record indicates police were dispatched at 12:30 a.m. and arrived at 12:34 a.m. The Montgomery County Detective Bureau is investigating the shooting. Upper Pottsgrove Township Police Chief Al Werner has declined to release information, including officer names, pending the investigation's conclusion.
Pysher was preparing to begin his senior year at Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey, where he was a baseball player. His father described him as a kindhearted person who aspired to become a high school history teacher and coach. Former teammates and coaches have shared memories of Pysher with his father since his death.
Pysher's father has reported that the family has received minimal information from the police. He mentioned an inquiry about retrieving his son's shoes for burial was met with initial approval, followed by a later statement that the request needed further consideration.