Charges filed against Ralph Yarl shooter after teen went to wrong home

The Kansas City homeowner who purportedly shot a black teenager in the head after a teenager accidentally rang his doorbell has been charged with two felony counts on Monday. Prosecutors have indicated that the homeowner could face a potential life sentence in jail.

Charges were filed against 84-year-old Andrew D. Lester in the shooting of a 16-year-old Kansas City teen, prosecutor Zachary Thompson announced late Monday, hours after a police case was submitted. Lester was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, prosecutor Zachary Thompson said. 

Lester, who is charged with shooting Ralph Yarl after the teenager mistakenly went to the wrong house to pick up his siblings, as reported by Fox, currently has an arrest warrant issued against him and a bail amount of $200,000 has been set.

Kansas City police stated that Ralph was picking up his younger siblings at a residence on N.E. 115th Terrace but mistakenly went to a house on N.E. 115th Street. Upon arriving at the wrong house, Lester, the homeowner, allegedly shot Ralph.

Court records indicate that when officers approached Lester's home, they observed that the front storm door glass was shattered, and Lester was standing inside the residence. the 84-year-old man provided written consent for the officers to search his home.

During an interview with law enforcement, Lester claimed that he had recently laid down in bed when he heard the doorbell ring. He stated that he grabbed his .32 Smith and Wesson 1888 revolver before going to answer the door.

Court documents reveal that Lester described his home's front door as consisting of an interior main door and an exterior glass storm door, both of which were locked.

He recounted opening the interior door and seeing a Black man attempting to pull on the handle of the exterior storm door. Lester asserted that he interpreted this as an attempted break-in and subsequently fired two shots within a short span of time after opening the door.

As per court documents, Yarl alleged that Lester warned him, "Don't come around here," after the shooting incident. Yarl proceeded to approach several homes seeking assistance and urging people to call the police. Law enforcement arrived shortly thereafter. Yarl sustained gunshot wounds to his left forehead and right arm.

As confirmed by Yarl's family to FOX4, Yarl was discharged from the hospital on Monday.

After the announcement of the charges, Mayor Quinton Lucas issued a statement, saying, "I am relieved to see the initiation of felony charges as a first step towards achieving justice for Ralph Yarl. It is now crucial for us to remain vigilant and engaged throughout the trial process."

The shooting incident has sparked nationwide protest and indignation. Last weekend, almost 1,000 individuals marched to the Northland residence where it occurred.

Who is Yarl?

According to his family, the teenager from Missouri is recognized as one of the premier bass clarinet players in the state. Additionally, at the age of 16, he is actively involved in his school's Technology Student Association and Science Olympiad Team.

Why was he shot?

After ringing the wrong doorbell while attempting to pick up his twin brothers at a residence in Kansas City, Missouri, 16-year-old Yarl was shot in the head, resulting in life-threatening injuries. The alleged gunman, an 85-year-old man named Andrew D. Lester, was initially released, sparking protests from hundreds of demonstrators. Yarl's aunt shared details of the harrowing incident on a GoFundMe page, which has since raised over $900,000.

What could happen to Andrew D. Lester?

The homeowner, who is 85 years old, is facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in jail after being charged with two felony counts. The charges include first-degree assault and armed criminal action in relation to the shooting incident, which was noted to have a "racial component" by the Clay County Prosecutor's Office. If convicted, the charges could result in a sentence of 10 to 30 years in prison, or even life imprisonment, as per prosecutors.