According to Clay County attorney Zachary Thompson’s early Monday evening announcement, a White 84-year-old homeowner who reportedly shot and injured Black youngster Ralph Yarl after the 16-year-old went to the incorrect house to pick up his brothers will face two felony charges.
A first-degree assault charge and an armed criminal conduct will be brought against Andrew Lester. He is not currently in jail and a warrant has been issued by the authorities for his arrest, according to Thompson.
At a press conference, Thompson stated, “I can tell you there was a racial component to this case,” without going into further detail. The prosecutor said that because a hate crime in Missouri is a lesser degree of felony and adding such charges might result in double jeopardy when asked if they could be added.
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There is no evidence that Lester or Ralph spoke to one another before to the incident on Thursday night, according to Thompson. No indication that the kid entered the house, the prosecutor said, and early data indicates that Lester fired a.32 caliber pistol at the teen through a glass door.
Thompson said that there is no footage of the interaction.
The suspect was detained on April 13 shortly before midnight, according to two employees of the detention facility for the Kansas City Police Department, but was released on April 14 at 1:24 a.m., less than two hours later.
Lester was only jailed for a short period of time after his original arrest, according to Thompson, since authorities knew immediately away that more investigation was necessary. Lester is 84 years old, not 85 as Thompson first claimed in a probable cause declaration acquired by CNN affiliate KMBC.
The homeowner could not be reached by CNN for comment. His earlier arrest report did not mention a lawyer.
In a statement, family lawyer Ben Crump stated, “While this is certainly a step in the right direction, we will continue to fight for Ralph while he works towards a full recovery.”
The Kansas City Police Department has been asked by CNN to provide them with information on the incident and the charges, as well as the suspect’s mugshot.
Teen injured but discharged from hospital, according to a newspaper
Just before 10 o’clock on April 13, police were called to a residence following allegations of a gunshot. When they got there, they discovered Ralph, 16, who had been shot by the homeowner outside the house.
Ralph was “shot twice and struck in the head and arm,” according to a statement from the family’s lawyers.
The neighbor who talked with CNN claimed that because they were asleep, they did not hear the gunshot. However, after she was fully awake, she did state, “We came outside (the victim) was laying in the street, surrounded by a few of our neighbors.”
Crump said on CNN on Monday afternoon that Ralph had left the hospital and returned home.
Crump claimed that although Ralph is still experiencing stress as a result of the incident, he is grateful to have survived despite being shot in the head. Ralph is young and robust, so they hope for a full recovery, he continued.
The excellent thing is that (hospital authorities) said he was stable enough to travel to his house, he added. “He’s not out of the woods yet, but the great thing is, (medical officials) said he was going to his home,”
According to the Kansas City Star, Ralph’s mother, a nurse, is taking care of him.
Crump argued that it is absurd that the gunman has not yet been taken into custody.
Nobody can guarantee that a Black guy would not be arrested if the roles were reversed and a White 16-year-old was shot for no reason other than ringing his doorbell, according to Crump. “I mean, after shooting that young Black kid in the head, this citizen went home and slept in his bed at night.”
Community and family members rallied in front of the man’s home at a rally over the weekend, demanding that charges be brought against him. A video from CNN affiliate KMBC showed protesters carrying posters that say, “Ringing a doorbell is not a crime” and “The shooter should do the time” as they marched while yelling, “Justice for Ralph,” and “Black lives matter.”
We want charges,” the teen’s father declared. That is what we desire.
Quinton Lucas, the mayor of Kansas City, said via a tweet on Monday afternoon that he had talked to Ralph’s mother.
He stated, “I expressed with her my personal commitment to seeing that we find justice for her son, her family, and those who are grieving now in our City.