On April 13, a 16-year-old boy named Ralph Yarl, a Kansas City resident, received two bullet wounds, one of them to the head. All this, product of having gone to the wrong house when going to look for his brothers. The attacker, an 84-year-old white man, who today faces two felony charges, acted under a racial component.
This was stated by the Clay County prosecutor, Zachary Thompson, this Monday afternoon, while detailing that Andrew D. Lester faces charges of first degree assault and armed criminal action, for which an arrest warrant was issued. with a $200,000 bail.
Thompson noted that the assault charge is a class A felony, so if convicted, Lester faces between 10 and 30 years in prison or life in prison.
"I can tell you that there was a racial component to this case," Thompson stressed at a press conference, who, when asked if Lester could also face hate crime charges, specified that in Missouri, a hate crime is a serious crime. lower level, and that adding such charges could constitute double jeopardy.
for no apparent reason
It was the night of Thursday, April 13, when Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old African-American boy, was shot twice by a white man in north Kansas City after accidentally ringing the wrong housebell while trying to pick up his siblings, confusing 115th Terrace with 115th Street.
An 84-year-old white man by the name of Andrew D. Lester reportedly shot Ralph in the head through the glass door, then shot him as Yarl was on the ground. again, damaging his arm. Yarl, having been admitted to the hospital, is now at home and continues his recovery.
According to statements to the media, the minor's family has described the act as a hate crime, since there is no reason for the man to act in that way. Meanwhile, the authorities have indicated that although there are no videos, there was no interaction between those involved, and Yarl never entered the attacker's house.
“This was not a 'mistake'; this was a hate crime. You don't shoot a kid in the head because he rang the bell. The fact that the police said it was a ?mistake? it's the reason America is the way it is," Faith Spoonmore, Ralph Yarl's aunt, told The Kansas City Defender.
Notably, after Lester was arrested just before midnight, reports indicated that he spent less than two hours at police headquarters to give a statement, and was released without charge.
In response, prosecutor Thompson said Lester was only held for several hours after he was initially taken into custody because police immediately recognized that more investigative work needed to be done.
A court document notes that, according to a probable cause plea, Lester argued that he was "scared to death" of Yarl's size and his inability to defend himself at 84. He added that he was in bed when he heard the doorbell ring and reached for a gun before answering the door.
they demand justice
Over the weekend, members of the community marched and demonstrated in front of the shooter's home, where they demanded justice for Ralph.
For his part, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas wrote on his Twitter account that he spoke to the mother of Ralph Yarl, "a boy who should never have been in danger simply by going to the door to pick up his siblings."
"I shared with her my personal commitment to ensure that we find justice for her son, her family, and all who are suffering now in our city."
A gofundme campaign, carried out by Faith Spoonmore, Ralph's aunt, and which as of this morning had raised more than 2 million 790 thousand dollars to help the family with medical expenses and therapy, states that Ralph Pual Yarl is a fantastic boy.
He highlights that at school, he is a member of the Technology Student Association and the Science Olympia team, in addition to the jazz band, and is a section leader in the marching band; "a scholar and one of Missouri's best grassroots clarinetists."
Ralph, recently earned Missouri All-State Band recognition with honorable mention. He plays multiple instruments in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, and is a former Missouri Academy Scholar. "Ralph can often be found with a musical instrument. He loves them all."
This past summer, Ralph attended Missouri Scholar's Academy, where he gained a full experience of college life. His goal is to attend Texas A&M to major in Chemical Engineering. "When we asked him how he plans to get into this university, he said, 'Well, if you have a scholarship for music or academics, do I know I can get it?'
The description text details that Ralph's teachers and friends describe him as "a kind soul", "easy going", "nice", "polite", "always willing to help", "super smart" and a "musical genius". ».
Ralph was looking forward to graduating high school and finally having the opportunity to visit West Africa before starting university, he stresses.
"Now his life is very different. Although physically he is fine, he has a long road ahead of him mentally and emotionally. The trauma he has had to endure and survive is unimaginable. It is our miracle. We have heard these kinds of stories many times and unfortunately most black children do not live to have another chance," the young man's aunt wrote.
Ralph deserves to have the future he dreams of. It deserves to be the light that shows the world that LOVE wins and that humanity continues to be Good.
Faith Spoonmore pointed out that the additional funds will be used for college expenses at Texas A&M, a trip to West Africa and other expenses.
With information from CNN and The Kansas City Star.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
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