Latest news with #Yarl
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
Why The White Man Who Pleaded Guilty To Shooting Ralph Yarl Won't Spend Time Prison
In 2023, Ralph Yarl—a Black teenager in Kansas—was shot after ringing the doorbell of a white man. The tragedy happened after he confused the streets where he was supposed to pick up his twin siblings. The man accused of shooting Yarl, Andrew Lester, claimed his actions were in self-defense. Lester, 86, was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shooting of the then 16-year-old. Yarl, who was shot both in the head and arm, is now a freshman at Texas A&M. Before his trial was scheduled to begin, Lester ultimately pleaded guilty on Friday (Feb. 14) to a lesser charge of second-degree assault. It carries up to a maximum of seven years in prison. He was set to be sentenced on March 7. And then this happened. Cher Congour, a spokeswoman for the Clay County prosecutor's office, said Lester's attorney called the office and the court, and told them about his death. 'We have learned of the passing of Andrew Lester and extend our sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time,' the prosecutor's office said per CNN. Congour also added that his death officially ends this legal matter. 'While the legal proceedings have now concluded, we acknowledge that Mr. Lester did take responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty in this case.' The prosecutor's office did not provide cause of death. At a hearing, Yarl testified that he rang Lester's bell and then waited for someone to answer. As the door opened, Yarl said he went to grab the storm door since he thought he was at his brothers' friends' house. Then, he was shot. Yarl was taken to a hospital and released three days later. Lester's attorney, Steve Salmon, stated that his client was in poor health just before his death. According to Salmon, Lester lost 50 pounds because of stress caused by intense media scrutiny and alleged death threats he received that stemmed from the shooting. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
The white man who pleaded guilty to shooting a Black teen who rang a wrong doorbell dies
MISSION, Kan. (AP) — An 86-year-old Missouri man has died just days after pleading guilty to a lesser charge in the 2023 shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black honor student who rang the white man's doorbell by mistake, prosecutors announced Wednesday. Andrew Lester of Kansas City was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shooting of the then-16-year-old, who survived and is now a freshman at Texas A&M. Before his trial was scheduled to begin, he pleaded guilty Friday to a lesser charge of second-degree assault, which carries up to seven years behind bars. He was scheduled to be sentenced on March 7. Cher Congour, a spokeswoman for the Clay County prosecutor's office, said Lester's attorney informed them of his death. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'We have learned of the passing of Andrew Lester and extend our sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time,' the prosecutor's office said in a news release. 'While the legal proceedings have now concluded, we acknowledge that Mr. Lester did take responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty in this case.' The news release offered no cause of death. Kansas City police said they weren't conducting a death investigation. And Sarah Boyd, a spokeswoman for the Clay County sheriff's office, said she had no information on Lester's cause of death since he wasn't in custody, but noted that he was in "poor health' at last week's plea hearing. Yarl's family said in a written statement Wednesday that what happened was one of the reasons they had pushed for a speedy trial. 'Now, another Black child harmed by prejudice will never see the man who shot him face the full weight of the justice system. While Lester finally admitted guilt, it came at the very last moment—after two years of stalling. That delay leaves our family reeling,' the statement said. The case shocked the country and renewed national debate about gun policies and race in the U.S. Yarl showed up on Lester's doorstep on the night of April 13, 2023, after he mixed up the streets where he was supposed to pick up his twin siblings. Lester's attorney, Steve Salmon, had argued that Lester was acting in self-defense and that he was terrified by the stranger who knocked on his door as he settled into bed. Authorities say Lester shot Yarl twice: first in the head, then in the arm. Yarl testified at a hearing that he rang the bell and then waited for someone to answer for what seemed 'longer than normal.' As the inner door opened, Yarl said, he reached out to grab the storm door, assuming he was at his brothers' friends' parents. He said Lester shot him in the head and uttered, 'Don't come here ever again.' Although the bullet didn't penetrate Yarl's brain, the impact knocked him to the ground. Yarl said Lester then shot him in the arm. The teen was taken to the hospital and released three days later. His family said the shooting took a big emotional toll and they had filed a lawsuit against the retired aircraft mechanic. Salmon said last year that Lester's physical and mental condition had deteriorated. He said Lester had heart issues, a broken hip and had been hospitalized. Lester also lost 50 pounds (23 kilograms), which Salmon blamed on the stress of intense media coverage and death threats he subsequently received. During Friday's hearing, Lester was hunched over as he was wheeled into the courtroom, his hands folded. Asked whether he was in poor health, Lester responded yes. The judge had previously ordered a mental evaluation of Lester but allowed for the trial to proceed after its completion. The results of that evaluation were not released publicly. Lester's grandson, Daniel Ludwig, didn't immediately return a text message from The Associated Press seeking comment.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Kansas City man dies while awaiting sentencing for shooting Black teen Ralph Yarl
Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Andrew Lester, 86, has died after pleading guilty to the intentional shooting of Black teenager Ralph Yarl outside Lester's Kansas City home in 2023. Local prosecutors announced Lester's death on Wednesday but did not say when or how he died, NBC News reported. Yarl was 16 when he mistakenly went to Lester's home instead of the correct residence and rang the doorbell while trying to pick up his twin brothers from a play date on April 13, 2023. Lester, who is White, shot Yarl once in the head and once in an arm, which caused the teen to suffer a traumatic brain injury. Lester called 911 after shooting Yarl and said the teen was "at my door trying to get in, and I shot him." Prosecutors charged Lester with one count of felony assault in the first degree and one felony count of armed criminal action. Lester initially pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released after posting a $200,000 bond. He recently changed his plea to guilty and was scheduled for a sentencing hearing on March 7 while facing up to seven years in prison. "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." Prosecutors suggested the shooting was racially motivated and considered charging Yarl with a hate crime but didn't because the felony charges carried a more severe punishment. Yarl's family said Lester's death deprives them of justice for the teen's shooting. "The news of Andrew Lester's passing brings a mix of emotions, but it does not bring justice," Yarl's family told ABC News. "Justice was never truly served." Yarl's family said they "remain committed to seeking a world where no child fears for their life because of their race and no family has to endure what we have." Attorney Steve Salmon represented Lester and argued he had heart and memory problems, a broken hip and lost more than 50 pounds while delaying his trial date from Oct. 7, 2024, to Feb. 18. A judge in November ruled Lester was fit to stand trial after seeing the results of a mental examination.
CBC
20-02-2025
- CBC
Missouri senior who shot Black teen who rang wrong doorbell dies before sentencing
An 86-year-old Missouri man has died just days after pleading guilty to a lesser charge in the 2023 shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black honour student who rang the white man's doorbell by mistake, prosecutors announced Wednesday. Andrew Lester of Kansas City was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shooting of the then-16-year-old, who survived and is now a freshman at Texas A&M University. Before his trial was scheduled to begin, Lester pleaded guilty Friday to a lesser charge of second-degree assault, which carries up to seven years behind bars. He was scheduled to be sentenced on March 7. Cher Congour, a spokesperson for the Clay County prosecutor's office, said Lester's attorney informed them of his death. "We have learned of the passing of Andrew Lester and extend our sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time," the prosecutor's office said in a news release. "While the legal proceedings have now concluded, we acknowledge that Mr. Lester did take responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty in this case." The news release offered no cause of death. Kansas City police said they weren't conducting a death investigation. Sarah Boyd, a spokesperson for the Clay County sheriff's office, said she had no information on Lester's cause of death since he wasn't in custody, but noted that he was in "poor health" at last week's plea hearing. Shooting victim's family 'reeling' Yarl's family said in a written statement on Wednesday that what happened was one of the reasons they had pushed for a speedy trial. "Now, another Black child harmed by prejudice will never see the man who shot him face the full weight of the justice system. While Lester finally admitted guilt, it came at the very last moment — after two years of stalling. That delay leaves our family reeling," the statement said. The case shocked the country and renewed national debate about gun policies and race in the U.S. Yarl showed up on Lester's doorstep on the night of April 13, 2023, after he mixed up the streets where he was supposed to pick up his twin siblings. Lester's attorney, Steve Salmon, had argued that Lester was acting in self-defence and that he was terrified by the stranger who knocked on his door as he settled into bed. Authorities say Lester shot Yarl twice: first in the head, then in the arm. Yarl testified at a hearing that he rang the bell and then waited for someone to answer for what seemed "longer than normal." As the inner door opened, Yarl said, he reached out to grab the storm door, assuming he was at his brothers' friends' parents home. He said Lester shot him in the head and uttered, "Don't come here ever again." Although the bullet didn't penetrate Yarl's brain, the impact knocked him to the ground. Yarl said Lester then shot him in the arm. The teen was taken to the hospital and released three days later. His family said the shooting took a big emotional toll and that they had filed a lawsuit against the retired aircraft mechanic. Shooter had health, cognitive issues: attorney Salmon said last year that Lester's physical and mental condition had deteriorated. He said Lester had heart issues, a broken hip and had been hospitalized. During last week's hearing, Lester was hunched over as he was wheeled into the courtroom, his hands folded. Asked whether he was in poor health, Lester responded yes. The judge had previously ordered a mental evaluation of Lester but allowed for the trial to proceed after its completion. The results of that evaluation were not released publicly. Yarl's shooting wasn't the only case of mistaken identity with grave consequences that week in the U.S. Kaylin Gillis, a 20-year-old woman, was killed by a homeowner in upstate New York on April 15, 2023, after the driver of a vehicle she was in drove to the wrong address. As the car was turning around, Kevin Monahan came out and fired two shots, one of which struck Gillis.
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.'
