84-Year-Old Accused Of Shooting Kansas City Teen Ralph Yarl Will Stand Trial

Topline

A Missouri judge ruled Thursday that Andrew Lester will stand trial for the shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black Kansas City teen who mistakenly approached Lester’s home and was critically injured in the shooting, after the 84-year-old man pleaded not guilty to felony charges stemming from the incident earlier this year.

Ralph Yarl, an unarmed Black teen, was shot after mistakenly approaching Andrew Lester’s door.

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Key Facts

Clay County Judge Louis Angles ruled following a preliminary hearing on Thursday that there was sufficient evidence to establish probable cause that Lester—who is white—had committed a felony by shooting Yarl, requiring Lester to stand trial, according to a court filing.

Prosecutors played a recording of the 911 call Lester made after shooting Yarl on April 13, in which Lester said the 16-year-old Yarl “wasn’t in my house, but I shot him,” according to the Kansas City Star.

A Kansas City police officer suggested Lester was “an elderly guy who was scared” after the shooting, while another indicated that Lester “said he hoped he didn’t kill anybody.”

Lester—whose arraignment is set for September 20—was released on a $200,000 bond on April 19 after he pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

Crucial Quote

Lee Merritt, an attorney representing Yarl’s family, said Yarl was shot “because he was armed with nothing other than his Black skin.”

Big Number

$3.4 million. That’s how much a fundraising page established by Yarl’s family has raised since April 17. The GoFundMe page was initially intended to raise funds for Yarl’s medical expenses and therapy, though Yarl’s aunt Faith Spoonmore said additional funds would be used for his college tuition at Texas A&M University and a trip to West Africa.

Key Background

Yarl approached Lester’s Kansas City home at about 10 p.m. on April 13 before Lester allegedly fired twice through his front door, hitting Yarl once in the head, according to police. Prosecutors said Yarl was sent to pick up his brothers but approached Lester’s home by mistake. Both Yarl and Spoonmore later claimed Lester shot Yarl again as he was lying outside of Lester’s home, after Lester told him to not “come around here.” Lester told police he believed Yarl was attempting to break into his home and shot him in self-defense. The shooting has drawn nationwide attention and outrage, including from Vice President Kamala Harris, who said, “No child should ever live in fear of being shot for ringing the wrong doorbell.”

Tangent

Lester may invoke the state’s “stand your ground” law in his defense, allowing state residents to “use physical force” on another person if they “reasonably believe” that person would use “unlawful force” against them. Criminal defense attorney Duncan Levin suggested this would be a “nearly impossible defense to make,” however, as it would be difficult to argue that Yarl was threatening Lester.