Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old boy from Missouri, miraculously survived being shot twice after ringing the wrong doorbell. On Thursday night, he had gone to pick up his younger brothers from a friend’s house when he mistakenly knocked on the wrong door. Andrew Lester, 84, has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action for the shooting.
The prosecutor said there was a “racial component” to the shooting, although Mr Lester has not been charged with a hate crime. Ralph’s mother, Cleo Nagbe, told CBS’s Gayle King that her son was home and surrounded by a team of medical professionals. She said he was shot at close range and doctors did not understand how he had survived.
According to local media reports, Mr Lester told police that he believed someone was breaking into his home and fired two shots through his door. A witness also said that he heard Ralph “screaming that he had been shot”. Police initially detained Mr Lester for questioning and let him go, sparking protests throughout Kansas City on Sunday.
Family attorney Lee Merritt was asked about Mr Lester’s claim that he was “fearing for his life”. Mr Merritt answered: “When we hear he feared for his life and we know he was confronted with a 16-year-old boy ringing his doorbell – it is unjustifiable to use this level of force.” The family will be speaking with prosecutors later on Tuesday to ask why attempted murder has not been included on the charge sheet.
Ralph shared a laugh with President Joe Biden during a phone call on Monday, according to his mother. Celebrities including Viola Davis, Justin Timberlake, Halle Berry and Kerry Washington – as well as Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes – have condemned the shooting. A GoFundMe account set up to pay for his medical recovery has raised more than $2.7 million as of Tuesday.
Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old boy from Missouri, is lucky to be alive after being shot twice in the head and arm following an unfortunate mistake. On Thursday night, he had gone to pick up his younger brothers from a friend’s house when he mistakenly knocked on the wrong door. Andrew Lester, 84, has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action for the shooting.
The prosecutor said there was a “racial component” to the shooting, although Mr Lester has not been charged with a hate crime. Ralph’s mother, Cleo Nagbe, told CBS’s Gayle King that her son was home and surrounded by a team of medical professionals. She said he was shot at close range and doctors did not understand how he had survived.
According to local media reports, Mr Lester told police that he believed someone was breaking into his home and fired two shots through his door. A witness also said that they heard Ralph “screaming that he had been shot”. Police initially detained Mr Lester for questioning and let him go, sparking protests throughout Kansas City on Sunday.
Family attorney Lee Merritt was asked about Mr Lester’s claim that he was “fearing for his life”. Mr Merritt answered: “When we hear he feared for his life and we know he was confronted with a 16-year-old boy ringing his doorbell – it is unjustifiable to use this level of force.” The family will be speaking with prosecutors later on Tuesday to ask why attempted murder has not been included on the charge sheet.
Ralph shared a laugh with President Joe Biden during a phone call on Monday, according to his mother. Celebrities including Viola Davis, Justin Timberlake, Halle Berry and Kerry Washington – as well as Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes – have all spoken out against the shooting. A GoFundMe account set up to pay for his medical recovery has raised an incredible $2.7 million as of Tuesday.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage across the nation, with many people calling for justice for Ralph Yarl and his family. It is clear that this young man is incredibly lucky to be alive after such a terrifying ordeal, and we can only hope that justice is served in this case.