Black US Teen Shot Twice By White Homeowner Just Because He Rang The 'Wrong' Doorbell: Reports
Ralph Yarl, 16, was shot in the head by a homeowner in Missouri. The family claims Ralph was shot after mistakenly going to the wrong house.
A black 16-year-old boy named Ralph Yarl was shot in the head by a homeowner in Missouri over the weekend. The family claims Ralph was shot after mistakenly going to the wrong house to pick up his twin brothers.
The incident occurred on Thursday when Ralph rang the doorbell at a house one block from where he was supposed to go.
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The homeowner then allegedly shot him twice, including once in the head.
After being shot, Ralph ran to three different homes before finally receiving help from a neighbor, who instructed him to lie on the ground with his hands up. Protests erupted in response to the shooting.
KCPD Chief Stacey Graves announced at a press conference on Sunday that the suspect was taken into custody, and their firearm was seized.
However, the suspect was released pending further investigation.
The department needs to collect a formal statement from Ralph and gather more evidence before the case can be handed over to prosecutors.
"The vast majority of cases to include violent crime involve the suspect being released, pending further investigation. In this case, the prosecutor requires more information from investigators that would take more than 24 hours to compile," Graves said.
"We recognize the frustration this can cause in the criminal justice process."
KCPD Chief Stacey Graves withheld information about the alleged shooter's gender and race.
However, attorneys Lee Merritt and Ben Crump, representing Ralph Yarl and his family, have claimed that a homeowner is a white man.
?BREAKING: Andrew Lester, the white man who shot 16-year-old Ralph Yarl, has surrendered to law enforcement and is now in police custody. pic.twitter.com/gHvmFoWWi8
¡ª Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) April 18, 2023
On Monday, Clay County prosecutor Zachary Thompson announced that Andrew Lester is being charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, which could result in a life sentence.
Lester's bond has been set at $200,000, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Thompson stated that there was a "racial component" to the case but did not provide further details.
Following the announcement, Crump and Merritt released a joint statement stating that they had learned of the charges shortly after speaking with President Joe Biden on the phone.
Last night, I had a chance to call Ralph Yarl and his family.
¡ª President Biden (@POTUS) April 18, 2023
No parent should have to worry that their kid will be shot after ringing the wrong doorbell. We've got to keep up the fight against gun violence.
And Ralph, we'll see you in the Oval once you feel better. pic.twitter.com/mPXiM1X6nK
"Moments after the family got off the phone with President Biden, who offered his prayers for Ralph¡¯s health and justice, we learned that the prosecutor will be charging the man responsible for the deplorable shooting of this innocent boy," the statement read.
"Gun violence against unarmed black individuals must stop. Our children should feel safe, not as though they are being hunted. While this is certainly a step in the right direction, we will continue to fight for Ralph while he works towards a full recovery."
Protesters gathered outside the alleged shooter's home in Kansas City on Sunday, chanting, "Stand up, fight back!"
#RalphYarl accidentally rang the door of the wrong house while trying to pick up his siblings. For this, a man shot him in the head. Then shot him a 2nd time as he was on the ground. The man is free and the 16-year-old is fighting for his life in the hospital. This can¡¯t be it. pic.twitter.com/pcs8retddo
¡ª Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 17, 2023
Faith Spoonmore, who live-streamed the protest on Instagram, spoke to a neighbor who saw the homeowner sweeping in front of his house the morning after the shooting.
"This was a child that this man attempted to assassinate," she said.
"He shot him twice. And we allowed him to not only go back home hours after the incident, but he could wake up the next morning and freaking claim like nothing ever happened."
Merritt and Crump issued a joint statement on Sunday, calling on the Clay County prosecutor's office to take quick action on the case.
"There is no excuse for releasing this armed and dangerous suspect after admitting to shooting an unarmed, non-threatening, and defenseless teenager that rang his doorbell," they said.
"We demand swift action from Clay County prosecutors and law enforcement to identify, arrest, and prosecute the man responsible for this horrendous and unjustifiable shooting to the full extent of the law."
News of Yarl¡¯s case erupted online, and prominent figures like Halle Berry and Viola Davis called prosecutors to charge the alleged shooter.
His name is #RalphYarl and I¡¯m sick and tired of this feeling¡my heart completely broke when I learned this precious 16-year-old, who accidentally rang the door of the wrong address in an attempt to pick up his siblings, was shot in the head¡ (1/3) pic.twitter.com/4VaZo7EFVE
¡ª Halle Berry (@halleberry) April 17, 2023
Yarl is described as a beloved community member by his aunt, Faith Spoonmore, on his GoFundMe page.
He is a high school student and an active member of his school's Technology Student Association and marching band, where he is a section leader playing the clarinet.
Although he is doing well physically, Spoonmore stated that he has a long road ahead of him mentally and emotionally.
Spoonmore also spoke about the trauma Yarl has endured and survived, emphasizing that most black boys do not live to get a second chance.
The 2022 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that gun-related deaths have increased by 8% on average since the enactment of the "Stand Your Ground" bill in Missouri in 2016.
Everytown, an advocacy group, reports that Missouri has some of the weakest gun laws in the country, with no requirement for background checks on unlicensed gun sales. The state sees an average of 1,351 gun-related deaths annually.
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