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84-Year-Old Is Charged in Shooting of Black Teenager Who Went to Wrong House 84-Year-Old Is Charged in Shooting of Black Teenager Who Went to Wrong House
(31 minutes later)
The errand that nearly cost Ralph Yarl his life was of the sort that falls to older brothers everywhere.The errand that nearly cost Ralph Yarl his life was of the sort that falls to older brothers everywhere.
Ralph, a Black 16-year-old in Kansas City, Mo., had been sent to pick up his younger twin brothers at a friend’s house on Thursday evening, his family said. But he mixed up the address, finding himself in front of a house on Northeast 115 Street, instead of Northeast 115th Terrace.Ralph, a Black 16-year-old in Kansas City, Mo., had been sent to pick up his younger twin brothers at a friend’s house on Thursday evening, his family said. But he mixed up the address, finding himself in front of a house on Northeast 115 Street, instead of Northeast 115th Terrace.
The white man who answered the door there shot him in the head and again in the arm after he fell, according to prosecutors. Somehow, Ralph made his way, bleeding, to another nearby house. There, he was told to lie on the ground while someone called for help, his family said.The white man who answered the door there shot him in the head and again in the arm after he fell, according to prosecutors. Somehow, Ralph made his way, bleeding, to another nearby house. There, he was told to lie on the ground while someone called for help, his family said.
The homeowner who shot him, Andrew D. Lester, 84, was taken into custody by the police for 24 hours then released without charges on Friday. Over the weekend, as Ralph Yarl lay critically injured in a hospital, anger began to spread in the community. Protesters marched on Mr. Lester’s home on Sunday, while the Kansas City police chief, Stacey Graves, held a news conference to acknowledge the public frustration. The homeowner who shot him, Andrew D. Lester, 84, was taken into custody by the police for 24 hours then released without charges on Friday. Over the weekend, as Ralph Yarl lay critically injured in a hospital, anger began to spread in the community. Protesters marched on Mr. Lester’s home on Sunday, while the Kansas City police chief, Stacey Graves, acknowledged the public frustration at a news conference.
As pressure mounted on Monday afternoon, the Police Department said in a statement that it had submitted the case file on the shooting to the Clay County prosecuting attorney’s office. A few hours later, Zachary Thompson, the prosecutor, announced that Mr. Lester had been charged, saying what many already believed: “There was a racial component to the case.” As pressure mounted on Monday afternoon, the Police Department said in a statement that it had submitted the case file on the shooting to the Clay County prosecuting attorney’s office. The prosecutor, Zachary Thompson, announced a few hours later that Mr. Lester had been charged, saying what many already believed: “There was a racial component to the case.”
Mr. Thompson said Mr. Lester had been charged with assault in the first degree, a class-A felony, and could face life in prison if convicted. Mr. Lester also was charged with armed criminal action, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, Mr. Thompson said. Mr. Thompson said Mr. Lester had been charged with assault in the first degree, a class-A felony, and could face life in prison if convicted. He also was charged with armed criminal action, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, Mr. Thompson said.
It was not clear if the teenager knocked on Mr. Lester’s door or rang the doorbell, but he did not “cross the threshold” into the man’s home, Mr. Thompson said. A probable cause statement, he added, did not indicate that “any words were exchanged.” It was not clear if the teenager had knocked on Mr. Lester’s door or rang the doorbell, but he did not “cross the threshold” into the man’s home, Mr. Thompson said. A probable cause statement, he added, did not indicate that “any words were exchanged.”
“We understand how frustrating this has been but I can assure you that the criminal justice system is working, and will continue to work,” Mr. Thompson said. “We understand how frustrating this has been, but I can assure you that the criminal justice system is working, and will continue to work,” Mr. Thompson said.
Mr. Lester was not in custody when the charges were announced. Mr. Thompson said at the news conference that a warrant had been issued for his arrest, and that his bail had been set at $200,000.Mr. Lester was not in custody when the charges were announced. Mr. Thompson said at the news conference that a warrant had been issued for his arrest, and that his bail had been set at $200,000.
“I don’t have any information regarding his specific whereabouts,” he added, “but it’s my understanding law enforcement is aware of the situation and taking all appropriate action.”“I don’t have any information regarding his specific whereabouts,” he added, “but it’s my understanding law enforcement is aware of the situation and taking all appropriate action.”
Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City said in an interview before the charges were announced on Monday that he was “heartbroken and angry about the situation that we find ourselves in.”Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City said in an interview before the charges were announced on Monday that he was “heartbroken and angry about the situation that we find ourselves in.”
“You’ve heard about driving while Black,” said Mr. Lucas, who is Black. “You’ve heard about all the other issues that Black people confront in life. Can you not knock on the door while Black? It’s almost like you can’t exist.”“You’ve heard about driving while Black,” said Mr. Lucas, who is Black. “You’ve heard about all the other issues that Black people confront in life. Can you not knock on the door while Black? It’s almost like you can’t exist.”
He said he would encourage “an expeditious conclusion of at least the beginning of an investigation,” and urged the Police Department to share evidence with the Clay County prosecutor’s office.He said he would encourage “an expeditious conclusion of at least the beginning of an investigation,” and urged the Police Department to share evidence with the Clay County prosecutor’s office.
Later on Monday Mr. Lucas said on Twitter that the charges against Mr. Lester were a “first step towards justice for Ralph Yarl.” Later on Monday, Mr. Lucas said on Twitter that the charges against Mr. Lester were a “first step towards justice for Ralph Yarl.”
Mr. Lucas said on Twitter on Monday afternoon that he had spoken with Ralph’s mother and had “shared with her my personal commitment to ensuring we find justice for her son, her family, and all hurting now in our City.”Mr. Lucas said on Twitter on Monday afternoon that he had spoken with Ralph’s mother and had “shared with her my personal commitment to ensuring we find justice for her son, her family, and all hurting now in our City.”
Before the charges were announced, most of the details about the shooting had come from family members and their lawyers, Ben Crump and S. Lee Merritt.Before the charges were announced, most of the details about the shooting had come from family members and their lawyers, Ben Crump and S. Lee Merritt.
“There can be no excuse for the release of this armed and dangerous suspect after admitting to shooting an unarmed, nonthreatening and defenseless teenager that rang his doorbell,” the lawyers wrote in a joint statement on Sunday.“There can be no excuse for the release of this armed and dangerous suspect after admitting to shooting an unarmed, nonthreatening and defenseless teenager that rang his doorbell,” the lawyers wrote in a joint statement on Sunday.
Mr. Crump linked to a fund-raising page started by Ralph’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore, who wrote that her nephew, a high school junior, did not have his phone with him when he went to get his brothers.Mr. Crump linked to a fund-raising page started by Ralph’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore, who wrote that her nephew, a high school junior, did not have his phone with him when he went to get his brothers.
“He mistakenly went to the wrong house, one block away from the house where his siblings were,” she wrote. The Kansas City Star and other local media outlets noted the confusion between the parallel streets with similar names.“He mistakenly went to the wrong house, one block away from the house where his siblings were,” she wrote. The Kansas City Star and other local media outlets noted the confusion between the parallel streets with similar names.
She said that her nephew pulled into the driveway and rang the doorbell and that the man who came to the door shot Ralph in the head. The police did not describe his injuries in detail. She said that her nephew pulled into the driveway and rang the doorbell and that the man who came to the door shot Ralph in the head.
“My nephew fell to the ground, and the man shot him again,” Ms. Spoonmore wrote. “Ralph was then able to get up and run to the neighbor’s house, looking for help. Unfortunately, he had to run to three different homes before someone finally agreed to help him after he was told to lie on the ground with his hands up.”“My nephew fell to the ground, and the man shot him again,” Ms. Spoonmore wrote. “Ralph was then able to get up and run to the neighbor’s house, looking for help. Unfortunately, he had to run to three different homes before someone finally agreed to help him after he was told to lie on the ground with his hands up.”
Chief Graves said on Sunday that the police were called to the scene at about 10 p.m. During the news conference, an investigator declined to say whether it was the homeowner who had called 911. Chief Graves said on Sunday that the police were called to the scene around 10 p.m. During the news conference, an investigator declined to say whether it was the homeowner who had called 911.
The gunman was released after being held for the maximum 24-hour period allowed without charges under state law in a felony investigation, the chief said at the news conference.The gunman was released after being held for the maximum 24-hour period allowed without charges under state law in a felony investigation, the chief said at the news conference.
Chief Graves said that the teenager was expected to give a formal statement to investigators when his injuries allow, she said. She also said that there was a “potential” self-defense or “stand your ground” element that investigators were examining. She did not say how many times the teenager had been shot. Chief Graves said that the teenager was expected to give a formal statement to investigators when his injuries allow. She also said that there was a “potential” self-defense or “stand your ground” element that investigators were examining.
Mr. Lucas, the mayor, said that Missouri’s Stand Your Ground law, which was adopted in 2016, should not apply in this case. But the following day, Mayor Lucas said that Missouri’s Stand Your Ground law, which was adopted in 2016, should not apply in this case.
“If Stand Your Ground really lets somebody just shoot somebody that rings a doorbell,” he said, “that put the life of every postal worker, every campaigner, every Amazon delivery person at risk in this country.”“If Stand Your Ground really lets somebody just shoot somebody that rings a doorbell,” he said, “that put the life of every postal worker, every campaigner, every Amazon delivery person at risk in this country.”
William Lamb contributed reporting.William Lamb contributed reporting.