84-Year-Old Man Charged After Shooting 16-Year-Old in Wrong House
An 84-year-old man, Andrew Lester, has been charged with assault after shooting 16-year-old Ralph Yarl in Kansas City on April 13, 2023. Yarl, who is recovering at home, was mistakenly at the wrong house when the incident occurred. Lester remains at large despite an arrest warrant being issued.
Lester, a white man, fired two shots from a .32-caliber revolver, hitting Yarl in the head and an arm. The prosecutor stated that Yarl did not enter Lester's home and no words were exchanged before the shooting. Lester faces up to life in prison for the assault charge and up to 15 years for armed criminal action.
The incident has sparked outrage, with protests outside Lester's home and responses from high-ranking officials. Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden both reacted to the shooting, with Harris tweeting and Biden speaking with Yarl by phone. Yarl, who is Black, was attempting to pick up his younger twin brothers when the incident occurred.
Andrew Lester is currently not in custody, despite an arrest warrant being issued with a $200,000 bond. The investigation into the incident continues, with the community awaiting further developments in the case.
