MO - Ralph Yarl, 16, shot twice for ringing the doorbell at the wrong house by mistake, Kansas City, Apr 2023 *arrest*

[Springrain]

What else did he do?

Nothing...he just rang the doorbell.

Black Teen Shot in the Head After Ringing the Wrong Doorbell: Family

Ralph Yarl was trying to pick up his younger brothers from a friend’s house, but mistakenly went to the wrong address.

www.thedailybeast.com

Yarl pulled up the driveway and rang the doorbell. “The man in the home opened the door, looked my nephew in the eye, and shot him in the head,” his aunt, Faith Spoonmore, wrote. “My nephew fell to the ground, and the man shot him again.”

 

[sds71]

Judge rules white man will stand trial for shooting Ralph Yarl, Black teen who went to wrong house

A Missouri judge has ruled that an 84-year-old man will stand trial for shooting Ralph Yarl, a Black teen who went to the man’s house by mistake.

t.co

 

[MrsWatson]

84-year-old white man who shot Black teen who mistakenly went to his door pleads not guilty

Andrew Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic, is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the April 13 shooting of Ralph Yarl.

www.nbcnews.com

Andrew Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic, is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the April 13 shooting of Ralph Yarl. The trial in the case, which shocked the country and renewed national debates about gun policies and race in America, was scheduled to begin on Oct. 7, 2024.

The not guilty plea, entered by Lester’s attorney, Steve Salmon, is largely a procedural step, and the hearing lasted just five minutes. Lester also pleaded not guilty soon after he was charged, but this is his first court appearance since a judge found sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Andrew Lester demands jury trial in Ralph Yarl shooting case

Andrew Lester, a Northland man accused of shooting teenager Ralph Yarl who went to the wrong address, is now demanding a jury trial.

fox4kc.com

Lester previously pleaded not guilty. Lester remains free on bond. His next court date is set for Dec. 15 in Clay County Circuit Court.

 

[c@tw0man]

Who in the heck names streets like this. My mother in law lives in a retirement community and it’s the same. The same numbered streets with St, Ave, and Rd. And then add in the NW and SE etc. How hard is it to use other street names.

For real! That is so hard to find the right street, especially when it's dark!

 

[c@tw0man]

I am sickened that this is what this world has come to where a terribly injured and bleeding TEENAGER (not a man as some media is referring to him) gets ignored and told to lay on the ground with his hands in the air instead of being offered help.

He WAS offered help, after 911 was called and the scene was deemed safe for the "helpers" to come outside. Remember it was dark. All a citizen can do in that situation is proceed with an abundance of caution, these neighbors would have no idea if the youngster was armed or the shooter was laying in wait. The neighbors put towels to his head and talked to him to keep him engaged. EMT's arrived, and he survived and is thriving.
Yes, we are living in terrible times, but rushing into a dangerous situation without scoping out the area, and ensuring he had no gun in his hand before approaching him, seems like a terrible risk to take.<modsnip>

 

[sds71]

Ralph Yarl achieves special honor less than one year after Kansas City shooting

Ralph Yarl has received a special distinction, making All-State Band, less than one year after he was shot when he went to the wrong address.

fox4kc.com

 

[airportwoman]

I just saw an interview with him on NBC News, near the 1-year anniversary of this injustice. He's still traumatized, and still recovering.

 

[ifindedout]

From Apr. 10

Ralph Yarl shooting: Court hearing held for Andrew Lester, trial date remains in October

The man charged with shooting Kansas City teen Ralph Yarl was in court on Tuesday.

www.kmbc.com

Both sides confirmed Tuesday that his trial will remain on October 7th.

A pre-trial conference is scheduled for September 6th.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1833371288447922217

 

[ilovewings]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1833371288447922217

well, i am sure he had all his marbles when he shot that young man, but at 85 he is most likely deteriorating mentally to the point of not being competent, so he won't face the consequences of what he did.

 

[airportwoman]

I guessed it was probably something like this.

 

[MrsWatson]

<modsnip>

Even if he is found not fit to stand trial, he needs to be on a very long timeout in a secure facility with no access to weapons.

moo

 

[tlcya]

Lester's lawyer claims the retired aircraft mechanic's health has deteriorated so much he now lacks the capacity to understand the proceedings against him or to assist in his own defense.

Major twist in case of white homeowner who shot black teen Ralph Yarl

There's been a major twist in the trial of 85-year-old Andrew Lester, who shot 16-year-old Ralph Yarl, who mistakenly rang his doorbell in Kansas City in April 2023.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I am not surprised and agree with you @MrsWatson, this hardly unexpected given the defendant's age, calling it a "major Twist" is quite the stretch, but whatever sells papers and clicks DM has always excelled at.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

There are people who are still very mentally aware in their 80's, 90's, and beyond. But if this man is having the severe level of cognitive issues being claimed, maybe it didn't just start appearing in the past year? It is too bad no one took away his gun. I can't say I feel sorry for him, shooting a boy as he lay on the ground.