RALPH YARL: 16-year-old shot after ringing doorbell of wrong house to pick up his brother in Kansas City, MO

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www.cbsnews.com

Charges filed against homeowner in shooting of Ralph Yarl, Black teen shot when he went to the wrong house in Kansas City

Kansas City police say 16-year-old Ralph Yarl was shot by a homeowner when he went to the wrong house to pick up his siblings.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com

Charges filed against homeowner in shooting of Ralph Yarl, Black teen shot when he went to the wrong house in Kansas City​

Prosecutors in Kansas City, Missouri, have filed felony charges against the homeowner accused of shooting Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager who was shot when he went to the wrong house to pick up his siblings last week.

At a news conference Monday evening, Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson announced two felony charges against the suspect, Andrew D. Lester, whom he described as a White man who is 85 years old. The charges are one count of assault in the first degree, with a potential punishment of up to life in prison, and one count of armed criminal action.

"My heart goes out to the child and family involved in this case," Thompson said. He said the victim was shot twice, struck in the head and arm.

"The probable cause statement indicates the rounds were fired through a glass door," Thompson said, adding that it also indicated "the victim in the case did not cross the threshold."

He also said, "As the prosecutor of Clay County, I can tell you there was a racial component to the case," though he did not elaborate.

Thompson said the suspect was not yet in custody but a warrant had been issued for his arrest, with bond set at $200,000.

A short time before the announcement, Kansas City police said a case file had been submitted to the Clay County Prosecutors Office "for their review and determination of charges" in the matter.

"Our office worked closely with the Kansas City Police Department on this case, and we would not be here today but for their hard work," Thompson said. "We understand how frustrating this has been, but I can assure you the criminal justice system is working and will continue to work."

The shooting prompted protests in Kansas City and a growing outcry on social media, where lawmakers, activists and celebrities called attention to the case.

Yarl, who is 16 years old, was seriously injured in the shooting Thursday night. Yarl's father tells CBS Kansas City affiliate KCTV that the teen has now been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

Yarl was meant to pick up his brothers from a friend's house on 115th Terrace, but he ended up ringing the doorbell at a home on 115th Street instead, Faith Spoonmore, the teen's aunt, wrote online.

She said a man opened the door, saw Yarl and shot him in the head, and when Yarl fell to the ground, the man shot him again. Yarl got up and ran from the property, but he had to ask at three different homes before someone helped him, Spoonmore wrote.
 
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Kimster said:
What a miracle this boy was able to live through it! I sure hope the shooter get the maximum sentence. This is not self-defense. This is attempted murder!
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Except "attempted murder" charge here has less punishment than what they actually charged him with. Glad they realized that and charged him accordingly.
 
Guess Who said:
Except "attempted murder" charge here has less punishment than what they actually charged him with. Glad they realized that and charged him accordingly.
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Yes, thank you for correcting me. I did read that and I’m glad they are going with the highest penalty possible.
 
Guess Who said:
If you are scared of somebody knocking at your door, maybe the answer is just don't answer and call the cops if you are REALLY scared of somebody knocking on your door. Problem solved.
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Yep. If I think someone is trying to break in, the VERY LAST THING I am going to do is OPEN THE DOOR.
 
apnews.com

Ralph Yarl armed only with 'Black skin,' family lawyer says

As Ralph Yarl struggles to come to grips with being shot after going to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers, the white Kansas City, Missouri homeowner who shot the Black 16-year-old is facing his day in court. An attorney for the Yarl family says the case should qualify as a hate...
apnews.com apnews.com

Ralph Yarl shedding ‘buckets of tears,’ shooter in custody​

As 16-year-old Ralph Yarl struggled to come to grips with being shot for going to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers, the white Kansas City, Missouri, homeowner who shot the Black teenager turned himself in on Tuesday.


Meanwhile, Yarl was home recovering from his wounds.

“Ralph is doing considerably well,” his mother, Cleo Nagbe, told “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King. “Physically, mornings are hard, but his spirits are in a good place. I borrow from his spirits.”

Nagbe said the trauma remains evident. She said her son is “able to communicate mostly when he feels like it, but mostly he just sits there and stares and the buckets of tears just rolls down his eyes.”

“You can see that he is just replaying the situation over and over again, and that just doesn’t stop my tears either,” she said.
 
Kimster said:
Me either! And, although I have a firearm for protection, I don’t automatically take it with me to the door just because someone’s at the door. That’s what my cameras are for!
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Yep. Armed here too but have never thought of taking it to answer the door from somebody knocking on it. It would be the ones that either quit knocking or didn't knock. Dog does her part well with a huge bark that sounds very intimidating. Good girl!
 

Grandson of man who shot Ralph Yarl says 'fear' and conspiracies consume him​

While family members of Andrew Lester do not believe he was explicitly motivated by race in the shooting of Yarl, a Black teenager, they say he must be held accountable.

www.nbcnews.com

Grandson of man who shot Ralph Yarl says "fear" and conspiracies consume him

While family members of Andrew Lester do not believe he was explicitly motivated by race in the shooting of Yarl, a Black teenager, they say he must be held accountable.
www.nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com
 
SheWhoMustNotBeNamed said:
apnews.com

Ralph Yarl armed only with 'Black skin,' family lawyer says

As Ralph Yarl struggles to come to grips with being shot after going to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers, the white Kansas City, Missouri homeowner who shot the Black 16-year-old is facing his day in court. An attorney for the Yarl family says the case should qualify as a hate...
apnews.com apnews.com

Ralph Yarl shedding ‘buckets of tears,’ shooter in custody​

As 16-year-old Ralph Yarl struggled to come to grips with being shot for going to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers, the white Kansas City, Missouri, homeowner who shot the Black teenager turned himself in on Tuesday.


Meanwhile, Yarl was home recovering from his wounds.

“Ralph is doing considerably well,” his mother, Cleo Nagbe, told “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King. “Physically, mornings are hard, but his spirits are in a good place. I borrow from his spirits.”

Nagbe said the trauma remains evident. She said her son is “able to communicate mostly when he feels like it, but mostly he just sits there and stares and the buckets of tears just rolls down his eyes.”

“You can see that he is just replaying the situation over and over again, and that just doesn’t stop my tears either,” she said.
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"As 16-year-old Ralph Yarl struggled to come to grips with being shot for going to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers, the white Kansas City, Missouri, homeowner who shot the Black teenager turned himself in on Tuesday."

Take out the two highlighted words and that's more of an accurate report. Is anyone sure he wouldn't have shot any teenager who came to his home he didn't know? White, black or purple?

I'm not following this. I will wait and see. I'm still waiting to hear more of how he came to be at this house. And YES I've heard the explanation of picking up his brothers I guess at a home they or he had never been to before and got the address messed up for as well.

Not doubting. Just waiting to see instead of jumping on board.
 
GrandmaBear said:
"As 16-year-old Ralph Yarl struggled to come to grips with being shot for going to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers, the white Kansas City, Missouri, homeowner who shot the Black teenager turned himself in on Tuesday."

Take out the two highlighted words and that's more of an accurate report. Is anyone sure he wouldn't have shot any teenager who came to his home he didn't know? White, black or purple?

I'm not following this. I will wait and see. I'm still waiting to hear more of how he came to be at this house. And YES I've heard the explanation of picking up his brothers I guess at a home they or he had never been to before and got the address messed up for as well.

Not doubting. Just waiting to see instead of jumping on board.
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It's being said by his own family that this is most likely accurate, which is also why they are contemplating hate crime charges. Interviews with family and acquaintances are why the prosecutor says that there is an element of race being involved. It does seem to be what happened in this case, but yes, i agree that in a lot of cases it has little do to with what happened.

Ralph's family's attorney is definitely adding to the drama though. Definitely not a fan of him or some of the others inserting themselves into this. Most are just stirring the pot.
 
www.kgw.com

Teenager walks at brain injury event weeks after getting shot in head for knocking on wrong door

The 17-year-old suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was shot after going to the wrong house while trying to pick up his younger brothers.
www.kgw.com www.kgw.com

Teenager walks at brain injury event weeks after getting shot in head for knocking on wrong door​

Ralph Yarl — a Black teenager who was shot in the head and arm last month after mistakenly ringing the wrong doorbell — walked at a brain injury awareness event Monday in his first major public appearance since the shooting.

The 17-year-old suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was shot while trying to pick up his younger brothers in April, the Kansas City Star reported.

Yarl walked with family, friends and other brain injury survivors Monday at Going the Distance for Brain Injury, a yearly Memorial Day race at Loose Park in Kansas City, Missouri.

“It takes a community. It takes a family. It takes a support group, all of that,” Yarl’s mother, Cleo Nagbe, said ahead of the race, adding: “Let’s raise more awareness to stop the things that cause brain injuries and should not be causing them, especially gun violence."

As many as 1,000 people raced through the park, including many in neon green T-shirts who registered to be part of “Team Ralph,” said Robin Abramowitz, executive director of the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City.

“It’s important for Ralph to see that he is not alone,” Yarl’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore, said. She added that Yarl has debilitating migraines and issues with balance. He is also struggling with his emotions, mood changes and the trauma of the shooting.
 
www.newspressnow.com

Judge weighing decision to seal case against Andrew Lester

CLAY COUNTY — The attorney representing Andrew Lester, the elderly man charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shooting of local teen Ralph Yarl, is arguing to
www.newspressnow.com www.newspressnow.com

Judge weighing decision to seal case against Andrew Lester​

The attorney representing Andrew Lester, the elderly man charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shooting of local teen Ralph Yarl, is arguing to seal the case.

The attorney appeared in Clay County Circuit Court Monday, May 22, on behalf of Lester, who did not appear in person “due to age-related health issues and safety issues,” according to court documents.

Lester’s lawyer, Steven Salmon, argued evidence needs to be sealed in the case because release would be prejudicial to his client, saying Lester’s been threated, has been relocated three times and lost 40 pounds since undergoing heart surgery after the shooting and that his client’s house has been defaced.


“If records are to be closed, the public has a right to know why,” Thompson wrote in his filing. “In cases such as this, the court must strike a balance between the public’s legitimate interest in access and the equally legitimate interest in preserving the legal integrity of the case and ensuring a fair trial. If justice is to be served, it must be done in a manner consistent with both due process and public interest.”


The judge did not rule on the case sealing Monday, saying more time to review evidence was needed. Lester’s next court date is June 1.
 
Kimster said:
What a miracle this boy was able to live through it! I sure hope the shooter get the maximum sentence. This is not self-defense. This is attempted murder!
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I completely agree. No matter if it is racial or not, the young man did not deserve being shot... twice!
 
This week, Ralph Yarl starts his senior year. Next week, he’ll face the man who shot him
Faith Spoonmore texted her nephew, Ralph Yarl, on Tuesday to ask how the first day of senior year was going. She hasn’t heard back, which she said is a good sign.

“He was ready. Ralph was ready to just go back to just being a teenager,” she said of the 17-year-old Staley High Schooler.

Yarl continues to heal from the traumatic brain injury he suffered, and he speaks with a therapist multiple times a week.



This week, Yarl returned to school. Next week, he’ll face the man who allegedly tried to kill him for the first time since that April 13 night when Yarl said he overheard Lester say: “Don’t come around here.”

“It’s scary,” Spoonmore said of the upcoming court date. “In our mind, and in a lot of people’s minds, it’s a simple case and what happened was wrong and it should not have happened and the person that did it should be punished for their actions.”

Yarl will have to relive the shooting many times in court before a verdict is eventually reached.

“This is just like a little chip off the iceberg, because this is not even a real trial,” Spoonmore said.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Aug. 31 at the Clay County Courthouse in Liberty.

In May, a judge agreed to grant a protective order for Lester because of ongoing threats and harassment toward him. That means all discovery in the case will be sealed and will not be accessible to the public. The public, including the media, will still be allowed in the courtroom.
 
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