The white Kansas City, Missouri, homeowner who shot a Black teenager who rang the man’s doorbell after mistakenly going to the wrong house to pick up his siblings pleaded not guilty to charges related to the incident and will wait a year to go to trial.
Both the Clay County prosecutor and Kansas City mayor believe that race played a part in his rash decision to shoot the minor. However, Lester’s defense attorney argues that that’s not the case.
Andrew Lester, 85, made headlines in the spring after shooting Ralph Yarl, 16, on April 13. During a brief courtroom arraignment, where he did not speak on his own behalf, his lawyers entered a “not guilty” plea for first-degree assault and armed criminal action charges.
Lester shot Yarl, who mistakenly went to the wrong address to pick up his younger siblings, in the head and arm. Lawyers for the boy say that the boy is recovering but not without difficulty.
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The senior citizen says he is also having a difficult time and has been harassed. Because his home has been vandalized, he claims he has had to relocate several times.
During the Sept. 20 arraignment, some of the teen’s supporters wore shirts that read, “Ringing a doorbell is not a crime.” A bailiff asked them to switch their shirts inside out before the proceedings.
According to an interview with FOX 4, family friend Philip Barolle said, “He said nothing to anybody to get shot. It’s a problem.”
“If I came to your house, if I made a mistake, ring your doorbell, you have two options. Don’t come out, call the police.”
The court will permit him to remain home on bond pending his trial, which is scheduled for Oct. 7, 2024.
Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said that while he believes race played a part in the…
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