Andrew Lester, an 86-year-old resident of Missouri, passed away weeks before his sentencing for the shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager. The incident, which occurred on April 13, 2023, involved Yarl mistakenly ringing Lester's doorbell while searching for his younger brother's friend's house. Lester, under the misapprehension that someone was attempting to break into his home, shot Yarl through the screen door, injuring him in the forehead and right arm.
Lester admitted to the shooting and pled guilty to two felony counts of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. The Clay County prosecutor's office sought a five-year prison sentence for him. According to a police report, Lester was "visibly upset and repeatedly expressed concern for the victim" following the incident. He told police he was "scared to death" due to Yarl's size and his own advanced age.
Ralph Yarl, who was 16 at the time of the incident, was released from the hospital a few days after being shot. The shooting sparked national outrage and protests in 2023, amid a series of incidents where innocent individuals were shot for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The case drew significant attention due to the racial dynamics involved, as Yarl's family highlighted throughout the legal proceedings.
"One of the reasons we pushed for a speedy trial was to ensure the public would see that our society does not condone shooting an unarmed, innocent child simply for ringing the wrong doorbell – especially when that child was targeted because of the color of his skin." – Yarl's family
Despite Lester's eventual admission of guilt, Yarl's family expressed frustration over the delays in bringing him to justice. They noted that Lester and his attorney employed various legal maneuvers to postpone accountability over nearly two years.
"For nearly two years, Andrew Lester never apologized," – Yarl's family
"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. While Lester finally admitted guilt, it came at the very last moment – after two years of stalling. That delay leaves our family reeling." – Yarl's family
Lester's death prior to sentencing has left Yarl's family with mixed emotions. They acknowledged that while Lester took responsibility by pleading guilty, his passing does not equate to justice being served.
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