Fatal Shooting During Reported Break-In
Police in Upper Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery County, fatally shot a man early Sunday morning while responding to a reported break-in at a home on Snyder Road, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. The office, in a Facebook post, said Upper Pottsgrove Township Police were called about 12:30 a.m. to a possible attempted break-in. When officers arrived, they found a man at the back of the residence, and according to the post, an "encounter ensued and police fired," killing him. The Montgomery County Detective Bureau is investigating the shooting. Upper Pottsgrove Township lies about 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Victim Identified
The man was identified by family members as Glenwood "Bubba" Pysher, 22, an incoming Saint Elizabeth University baseball player. His mother said he had recently transferred to the New Jersey university as a student-athlete and was scheduled to begin classes on Monday, as reported by FOX29. The names of the officers involved have not been released, and it remains unclear what led to the shooting or whether Pysher was armed. The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said in its post that the man's identity had not been made public at that time, but family members subsequently identified him.
Family's Account
Pysher's mother said her son had been at a local bar celebrated a friend's birthday before a group went to a friend's house. Pysher, who walked, mistakenly approached the wrong home, knocked on the door, and asked to be let in, his mother told the outlet. The homeowners called 911 after he knocked, according to the family. The mother stated Pysher was unarmed, though this has not been independently verified by authorities. The claim that he was unarmed appears to differ from the initial account from the District Attorney's office, which did not specify whether the man was armed. The investigation is catching ongoing, officials said.
Community Response
A GoFundMe campaign, launched by a family friend supporter to support Pysher's family, has been raising funds to cover funeral costs and other needs. The campaign describes Pysher as a "promising young man, athlete, and scholar who loved his family deeply." As of Tuesday morning, the campaign had raised over $18,000, the campaign's page states, and the friend wrote that his loss has left the family with "unimaginable" heartbreak. The campaign's description adds that Pysher "meant so much to so many, and his loss has deeply shaken all who loved him." Officials have continued to stress that the investigation is ongoing and have not provided further details.