Latest news with #ClayCountyProsecutingAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Missouri police chase ends in yard with ‘F*** Around and Find Out' sign
CLAY COUNTY, Mo. – A Missouri police chase ended with an ironic twist last weekend: In a yard marked by a sign that read, 'Presented by: F*** Around and Find Out.' The Clay County Sheriff's Office reports that the chase led to the arrest of Eric E. Frazer, 53, a suspect wanted for drug trafficking. The chase occurred around 2 p.m. Saturday on Jesse James Farm Road near Missouri Route 92. Authorities attempted to arrest Frazer on a warrant for drug trafficking when he allegedly fled from Clay County deputies. The sheriff's office says, at one point, Frazer swerved toward one a deputy who was attempting to deploy a spike strip. Frazer eventually struck another spike strip and came to a stop in the 16800 block of Ragsdale Road, leading to his arrest in the yard with the now-infamous sign. Turns out, based on investigator accounts, someone ran and quite literally found out. The Clay County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has charged Frazer with one count of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention. The charge falls under Missouri's Valentine's Law, which took effect last year and imposes stricter penalties on individuals who flee from police. Clay County is located roughly half an hour north of Kansas City. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NBC News
20-02-2025
- NBC News
Ralph Yarl shooter Andrew Lester dies days after entering guilty plea
Andrew Lester, the 86-year-old white man who pleaded guilty Friday to shooting Black teenager Ralph Yarl in the head after Yarl mistakenly rang his doorbell, has died, prosecutors in Clay County, Missouri, said Wednesday. The prosecutors did not say how or when he died. He was facing up to seven years in jail after reaching a plea deal and was awaiting sentencing March 7. "While the legal proceedings have now concluded, we acknowledge that Mr. Lester did take responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty in this case," Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said in a statement. "Our thoughts remain with both families affected by this tragic incident as they continue their healing process." Yarl's family members said in a statement that Lester never apologized for what he did and that "instead, he and his attorney used every legal maneuver possible to delay accountability." "Now, another Black child harmed by prejudice will never see the man who shot him face the full weight of the justice system," his family said, adding, "Ralph Yarl survived, yet justice was never truly served. He has a lifetime ahead to carry the trauma of that night, while the man responsible escaped sentencing." Lester had pleaded guilty to one felony count of second-degree assault. Last week, after the plea agreement was reached, Yarl's mother, Cleo Nagbe,said she was frustrated that Lester's case had been delayed for several months. 'Why did we allow him to live in his house comfortably, do all the things that he desired to do?' she told NBC News. The family also expressed frustration with the deal itself, saying it does not erase the trauma that they and Yarl endured, nor does it address perceived failures in the justice system, including racial bias. 'While this marks a step toward accountability, true justice requires consequences that reflect the severity of his actions — anything less would be a failure to recognize the harm,' the family said in a statement. 'This case has never been just about Ralph — it is about every child's right to exist without being seen as a threat.' Thompson responded that the outcome 'ensures accountability for the defendant, provides closure to Mr. Yarl, and satisfies the need to achieve a just result in the case.' Lester's trial had been scheduled to start Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri. He had pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Before the plea deal was made, members of Yarl's family said they had little trust in the Clay County Prosecuting Attorney's Office because they believe it had not worked aggressively enough for a conviction, said the family's spokesperson, Faith Spoonmore, Yarl's aunt. As an example, she said, Thompson did not argue in the charging documents that race was a factor in the shooting. 'I don't think that the prosecutor's office is on our side,' Spoonmore said before the deal was announced. Thompson responded Friday, saying, 'We understand their frustration, but throughout this process our office has maintained regular and respectful communication with Mr. Yarl's family. They were consulted during the process.' Race was a component in the case, but there was no evidence of racial motivation, Thompson said, adding he explored all aspects of the case. Lester, who was initially charged with a felony count of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, shot Yarl with a handgun on April 13, 2023, when Yarl rang Lester's doorbell, mistaking it for the house where he was supposed to pick up his siblings. Lester fired multiple shots, grazing Yarl in the head and striking him in the arm. Lester immediately called police, telling them he fired his gun because he was scared. Yarl, 18, who is in his first semester of college at Texas A&M, declined to comment this week, He told NBC News last year in his first in-depth interview about how the shooting affected him that it had been 'a bumpy journey.' 'Whenever there's something that goes on that reminds me of what happened ... I just have, like, such a negative wave of emotions, like anger, like disgust,' he said. 'It's always a mix of good and bad days. And I feel like the good days are when I'm able to be around people that help me build myself up.'
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
86-year-old white man accepts plea deal in wrong-door shooting of Black teen Ralph Yarl
Andrew Lester, the 86-year-old white man charged with shooting Black teenager Ralph Yarl in the head after Yarl mistakenly rang his doorbell, accepted a plea deal Friday of up to seven years in jail, prosecutors said. Lester agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of second-degree assault and faces one to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections service under terms of the agreement made with Clay County prosecutors. He will be sentenced on March 7. He entered court in a wheelchair. Yarl's mother, Cleo Nagbe', put her arm around her son and asked if he was OK. Yarl nodded. Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said after the court hearing that the outcome "ensures accountability for the defendant, provides closure to Mr. Yarl, and satisfies the need to achieve a just result in the case.' Lester's trial had been scheduled to start Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri. He had previously pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Yarl's family expressed frustration with the deal, saying it does not erase the trauma the boy and the family endured, nor does it address perceived failures in the justice system, including racial bias. 'While this marks a step toward accountability, true justice requires consequences that reflect the severity of his actions — anything less would be a failure to recognize the harm,' the family said in a statement. "This case has never been just about Ralph — it is about every child's right to exist without being seen as a threat.' Before the plea agreement, members of Yarl's family said that they had little trust in the Clay County Prosecuting Attorney's Office because they believe it had not worked aggressively enough for a conviction, said Faith Spoonmore, Yarl's aunt and the family's spokesperson. As an example, she said, Thompson did not argue in the charging documents filed against Lester that race was a factor in the shooting. 'I don't think that the prosecutor's office is on our side,' Spoonmore said before the deal was announced. Thompson responded Friday, saying, 'We understand their frustration, but throughout this process our office has maintained regular and respectful communication with Mr. Yarl's family. They were consulted during the process.' Race was a component in the case, but there was no evidence of racial motivation, Thompson said, adding he explored all aspects of the case. Lester, who was charged with a felony count of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, shot Yarl with a handgun on April 13, 2023, when Yarl rang Lester's doorbell, mistaking it for the house where he was supposed to pick up his siblings. Lester filed multiple shots, grazing Yarl in the head and striking him in the arm. Lester immediately called police, telling them he fired his gun because he was scared. Still, Spoonmore said, Lester should not have fired at her underage nephew. 'It's not OK for a child to be shot in the head for knocking on the wrong doorbell,' she said. Yarl, now 18, is in his first semester of college at Texas A&M. He declined to comment this week but told NBC News last year in his first in-depth interview about how the shooting affected him, that it had been 'a bumpy journey.' 'Whenever there's something that goes on that reminds me of what happened ... I just have, like, such a negative wave of emotions, like anger, like disgust,' he said. 'It's always a mix of good and bad days. And I feel like the good days are when I'm able to be around people that help me build myself up.' Spoonmore said the engineering major plays bass clarinet in the school marching band and has made new friends. 'He likes it,' his aunt said. Ralph went home twice over the holidays, she said, making punch for Christmas and joining multiple family outings, but his reserved demeanor has not changed. 'He's still very quiet, doesn't say much,' his aunt said. 'He's one of those people who doesn't talk.' She said family members did not broach the subject of the then-upcoming trial during his visits. 'It's not something that we bring up, but you can see it, you can feel it,' Spoonmore said. 'Ralph has been doing his best, I'm so proud of that kid. He's trying to put his best foot forward.'This article was originally published on
NBC News
14-02-2025
- NBC News
A plea deal is reached in the wrong-door shooting of teenager Ralph Yarl
Andrew Lester, the 86-year-old white man charged with shooting Black teenager Ralph Yarl in the head after Yarl mistakenly rang his doorbell, accepted a plea deal Friday of up to seven years in jail, prosecutors said. Lester agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of second-degree assault and faces one to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections service under terms of the agreement made with Clay County prosecutors. He will be sentenced on March 7. He entered court in a wheelchair. Yarl's mother, Cleo Nagbe', put her arm around her son and asked if he was OK. Yarl nodded. Lester's trial had been scheduled to start Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri. He had previously pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Yarl's family expressed frustration with the deal, saying it does not erase the trauma the boy and the family endured, nor does it address perceived failures in the justice system, including racial bias. 'While this marks a step toward accountability, true justice requires consequences that reflect the severity of his actions — anything less would be a failure to recognize the harm,' the family said in a statement. "This case has never been just about Ralph — it is about every child's right to exist without being seen as a threat.' Before the plea agreement, members of Yarl's family said that they had little trust in the Clay County Prosecuting Attorney's Office because they believe it had not worked aggressively enough for a conviction, said Faith Spoonmore, Yarl's aunt and the family's spokesperson. As an example, she said, Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson did not argue in the charging documents filed against Lester that race was a factor in the shooting. 'I don't think that the prosecutor's office is on our side,' Spoonmore said before the deal was announced. Thompson said earlier this week that he could not directly respond to Spoonmore's comments because they referred to an ongoing case. 'I want to emphasize that our office takes our commitment to victims and their families very seriously,' the prosecuting attorney said in an email. 'It's important to note that as prosecutors, we have dual obligations: to pursue justice while also protecting the integrity of the legal process.' He said that part of his role is to ensure that the trial is fair to both Yarl and Lester. 'We remain dedicated to handling this case with the utmost care and consideration for all parties involved,' Thompson said. Lester, who was charged with a felony count of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, shot Yarl with a handgun on April 13, 2023, when Yarl rang Lester's doorbell, mistaking it for the house where he was supposed to pick up his siblings. Lester filed multiple shots, grazing Yarl in the head and striking him in the arm. Lester immediately called police, telling them he fired his gun because he was scared. Still, Spoonmore said, Lester should not have fired at her underage nephew. 'It's not OK for a child to be shot in the head for knocking on the wrong doorbell,' she said. Yarl, now 18, is in his first semester of college at Texas A&M. He declined to comment this week but told NBC News last year in his first in-depth interview about how the shooting affected him, that it had been 'a bumpy journey.' 'Whenever there's something that goes on that reminds me of what happened ... I just have, like, such a negative wave of emotions, like anger, like disgust,' he said. 'It's always a mix of good and bad days. And I feel like the good days are when I'm able to be around people that help me build myself up.' Spoonmore said the engineering major plays bass clarinet in the school marching band and has made new friends. 'He likes it,' his aunt said. Ralph went home twice over the holidays, she said, making punch for Christmas and joining multiple family outings, but his reserved demeanor has not changed. 'He's still very quiet, doesn't say much,' his aunt said. 'He's one of those people who doesn't talk.' She said family members did not broach the subject of the then-upcoming trial during his visits. 'It's not something that we bring up, but you can see it, you can feel it,' Spoonmore said. 'Ralph has been doing his best, I'm so proud of that kid. He's trying to put his best foot forward.'
