Headline: Elderly White Man Surrenders to Authorities After Allegedly Shooting Black Teenager Who Mistakenly Rang His Doorbell
An 84-year-old white man, Andrew Lester, accused of shooting a black teenager who mistakenly rang his doorbell in Kansas City, has turned himself in to the authorities. He was released on bail later the same day. Lester now faces two felony charges, first-degree assault and armed criminal action, for the shooting incident involving 16-year-old Ralph Yarl that took place on April 13. His arraignment is set for Wednesday afternoon.
Lester surrendered at a detention center and was released on bail several hours later. His $200,000 bond conditions stipulate that he must not possess a weapon or have any direct or indirect contact with Ralph or his family, according to Sarah Boyd, a spokesperson for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Ralph, who had gone to the wrong address to collect his siblings, was shot in the head and arm. He has been discharged from the hospital but faces a long journey to full recovery, his family said. Lester claimed to the police that he and Ralph hadn't exchanged words before he fired at the teenager through a locked glass door.
Ralph's family has found some solace in the criminal charges against Lester, but they are aware of the long road ahead, both for Ralph's recovery and their pursuit of justice, according to his aunt, Faith Spoonmore.
Initial release of Lester, just a few hours after the shooting, has raised questions. Kansas City Mayor, Quinton Lucas, expressed concern saying that while a 24-hour hold is allowed in Missouri, Lester was released within a few hours.
Lester told police that he had shot at Ralph because he believed the teenager was trying to break into his home. Officers had arrived at the scene shortly before 10 p.m. that night after receiving reports of a shooting. They found Ralph wounded in the street.
The incident led to protests in Kansas City, with demonstrators marching under the banner "Justice for Ralph," demanding the shooter's arrest.
In the legal proceedings, it's unclear whether Missouri's "stand your ground" law will be invoked in Lester's defense. This law allows individuals to respond to threats or force without fear of criminal prosecution in situations where they have a right to be present.
Mayor Lucas believes that the shooting was racially motivated, and this sentiment was echoed by Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson.
Ralph's lawyer, Ben Crump, questioned why Lester was not detained longer, proposing that if the roles were reversed, a black man would likely be arrested for shooting a white teenager. He emphasized that Ralph had only rung the doorbell before being shot.
Ralph, an accomplished bass clarinet player and a band leader at his school, was looking forward to graduating from high school and visiting West Africa before starting college. Despite his physical recovery, the trauma he endured is expected to have a lasting impact, hence a GoFundMe page was created to assist with his medical expenses. The page had raised over $2 million by Monday night.
Ralph's shooting has been compared to the killings of Trayvon Martin in Florida and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, both young black males who were shot by men who later claimed self-defense.
President Joe Biden had a phone conversation with Ralph and his mother, during which he commended the teen's strength and determination, and assured them of his continued fight against gun violence.