A 22-year-old unarmed college athlete was fatally shot by police in Upper Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania, after he mistakenly attempted to enter a stranger's home following a night of drinking. Glenn "Bubba" Pysher was celebrating a friend's birthday on Saturday night when the group decided to continue the celebration at a nearby house.
Pysher, who had been drinking, began walking to his friend's residence but instead arrived at the wrong house. According to his mother, Erin Pysher, he began knocking on the door and asking to be let in, believing it was his friend's home.
Shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, residents of the home contacted police to report a possible attempted break-in. Responding officers found Pysher in the rear of the property, where an encounter occurred, leading to him being shot. His mother stated that Pysher was on the phone with friends at 12:32 a.m. and was shot by 12:35 a.m., carrying only a cell phone and a book bag.
Pysher was set to begin classes at Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey on Monday, where he had recently transferred and was expected to play on the baseball team. His family described him as a "wonderful young man" and a "lovable goofball."
It remains unclear why officers opened fire. The Montgomery County Detective's Bureau is investigating the shooting, and surveillance footage from the backyard of the property is part of the ongoing investigation. Family friends have questioned whether the situation could have been de-escalated.