Andrew Lester, the 86-year-old white man who on April 13, 2023, fired a shot in the head and one in the arm striking 16-year-old African American Ralph Yarl after the latter accidentally rang his house doorbell, died just days after pleading guilty to second-degree assault. Lester, who was facing up to seven years in prison, was due to be sentenced March 7 at the end of a trial scheduled to be held in Kansas City, Missouri. Yarl’s family expressed bitterness, pointing out that the man never apologized and escaped full justice.
The family of the young man who “miraculously” survived the shooting–albeit suffering serious injuries– stressed in a statement about Lester, “he and his attorney used every legal maneuver possible to delay accountability.” Clay County prosecutors in Missouri did not release details about Lester’s death to the media, but said, “While the legal proceedings have concluded, we recognize that Mr. Lester has taken 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 accident as they continue their healing process.”
The boy’s family responded to the incident and what they consider an injustice: “While this marks a step toward accountability, true justice requires consequences that reflect the seriousness of his actions-anything less would be a failure to recognize the harm,” the family said in a statement. “This case was never just about Ralph, rather,” it stressed, ”it is about the right of every child to exist without being seen as a threat.
