Montgomery County investigators have not explained what happened during the encounter before an Upper Pottsgrove Township officer opened fire.
UPPER POTTSGROVE, Pa. — A 22-year-old college baseball player was fatally shot by an Upper Pottsgrove Township police officer early Sunday after his family says he mistakenly went to the wrong house while trying to meet friends after a night out.
Montgomery County authorities identified the man as Glenwood Earl Pysher IV. Police had responded to a home on Snyder Road at about 12:29 a.m. Aug. 23 after receiving a 911 call reporting a possible attempted break-in, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. Officials said police found Pysher behind the residence and that an encounter followed before an officer shot him. Authorities have not publicly described what occurred during that encounter or what prompted the officer to use deadly force.
Pysher’s family has offered a different context for why he was at the property. His mother, Erin Pysher, told news outlets that her son had been out celebrating a friend’s birthday and later planned to meet friends at a house nearby. She said he decided to walk and, after having drinks, mistakenly went to another home because he believed it belonged to his friend. The family says he knocked on the door and called out because he thought his friends were inside.
The residents of the Snyder Road home were startled and called 911, according to local reporting. Erin Pysher told 6abc that her son was speaking with friends by phone shortly after 12:30 a.m. She said she believes police arrived and the shooting happened only minutes later. Her timeline and description of the encounter are the family’s account and have not been fully confirmed by investigators.
Erin Pysher has also said her son was unarmed and was carrying a cellphone and a backpack. Authorities have not publicly said whether Pysher had a weapon, and the District Attorney’s Office has released few details about the confrontation. The identity of the officer involved also had not been publicly released in the latest reports reviewed Wednesday. Officials have not said whether other officers were present when the shots were fired or how many shots were discharged.
Questions about what happened behind the home are now at the center of the investigation. Action News reported that surveillance cameras in the backyard recorded the encounter and that the footage is being considered as part of the investigation. The video has not been publicly released, and the news organization said it had not been given access to the recording. No body-camera footage or other official recording explaining the shooting had been released as of Wednesday morning.
The Montgomery County Detective Bureau is investigating the shooting under the county’s protocol for officer-involved shootings. The Upper Pottsgrove Township Police Department has referred questions about the case to the District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said the investigation is continuing and that additional information will be released when the review is completed. No official finding has been announced about whether the officer’s use of force was legally justified.
Pysher was preparing to begin a new chapter as a student-athlete. Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey confirmed that he was preparing to attend the school and join its baseball team. He had previously played college baseball, including at Northampton Community College, and was expected to continue playing during his senior season.
Saint Elizabeth University President Gary B. Crosby said the university community was heartbroken by Pysher’s death and extended condolences to his family, friends and teammates. The university described Pysher, who was also known as “Bubba,” as an incoming student-athlete whose time at the school had been about to begin. The school said counseling and support services were being made available to students affected by his death.
Pysher’s parents have publicly called for answers about why the encounter escalated to deadly force. His mother told CBS News that she wants to understand what happened during the short period between the 911 call and the shooting. His father, Glenwood Pysher, similarly said the family wants the facts surrounding their son’s death. Their statements reflect the family’s account and concerns while the official investigation remains incomplete.
The case began with a 911 report characterized by authorities as a possible attempted break-in, but investigators have not said whether they determined that Pysher actually tried to force entry into the home. His family maintains that he was confused about the address and believed he had reached his friend’s residence. Authorities also have not publicly described what the responding officer saw or heard after arriving, what commands were given, or how Pysher responded before the shooting.
The District Attorney’s Office said the investigation remains active. Until investigators complete their review and release additional evidence, the circumstances immediately preceding the fatal shooting — including why the officer fired and whether Pysher posed a threat — remain publicly unresolved.
Author note: Last updated August 26, 2026.