Young black scholar Ralph Yarl shot after ringing wrong doorbell while trying to pick up siblings

July 2024 · 4 minute read

A gifted black musician was shot in the head after he rang the wrong doorbell while trying to pick up his siblings at a home in Kansas City, Missouri, Thursday night, cops said.

Ralph Yarl, 16, was scheduled to pick the siblings up around 10:30 p.m. on N.E. 115th Terrace — but the teen mistakenly went to N.E. 115th Street and was met at the door with gunshots, according to Kansas City police.

Yarl, who family members described as “one of the top base clarinet players in Missouri,” suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to a hospital, where he was recovering on Sunday night.

The homeowner, who fired the weapon, was taken into custody and released after 24 hours.

The teen’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore, detailed the terrifying incident on a GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $900,000 as of Monday morning.

“He mistakenly went to the wrong house, one block away from the house where his siblings were. He pulled into the driveway and rang the doorbell,” she wrote.

“The man in the home opened the door, looked my nephew in the eye, and shot him in the head. My nephew fell to the ground, and the man shot him again. Ralph was then able to get up and run to the neighbor’s house, looking for help.”

Spoonmore said Ralph had to run to three different homes before someone helped him “after he was told to lie on the ground with his hands up.”

A talented musician and scholar, Ralph is a member of his school’s Technology Student Association and Science Olympia Team and plays on the jazz and competition band, according to Spoonmore.

She said he recently earned Missouri All-State Band recognition with an honorable mention.

“He plays multiple instruments in the metropolitan youth orchestra,” she wrote.

Kansas City teenager Ralph Yarl was shot in the head after ringing the wrong doorbell while trying to pick up his siblings, according to police. shaunking/Instagram

“Ralph can often be found with a musical instrument. He loves them all.”

The teen aspires to attend Texas A&M to study chemical engineering, according to the fundraising page.

“When asked how he plans to get into this university, he said, ‘Well, if they have a scholarship for music or academics, I know I can get it,'” Spoonmore said.

Yarl was scheduled to pick the siblings up around 10:30 p.m. on N.E. 115th Terrace — but the teen mistakenly went to N.E. 115th Street and was met at the door with gunshots, according to police.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office is prepared to take over the case as cops collect evidence.

“We recognize the frustration this can cause with the entire criminal justice process,” Graves said.

“As soon as the case is complete, it will be presented to the Clay County prosecutors for their review.”

Yarl suffered life-threatening injuries and is recovering at a hospital. shaunking/Instagram
The homeowner who shot Yarl was taken into police custody and released 24 hours later. shaunking/Instagram

The shooting was officially listed as a case of mistaken identity.

Graves said that the initial evidence gathered “does not say that it is racially motivated,” but noted that the case did have “racial components” that police would be looking into as the investigation continues.

forensic evidence and a victim statement would be needed before the case is complete, the chief added.

What we know about the Ralph Yarl shooting

Who is Yarl?

The black Missouri teen is “one of the top bass clarinet players in Missouri,” according to his family. The 16-year-old is also a part of his school’s Technology Student Association and Science Olympiad Team.

Why was he shot?

Yarl was shot in the head after he rang the wrong doorbell while trying to pick up his twin brothers at a home in Kansas City, Missouri.

Police said Yarl sustained life-threatening injuries when he was shot, and hundreds of protesters rallied after the gunman, 84-year-old Andrew D. Lester, was initially released.

The teen’s aunt talked about the terrifying incident on a GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $900,000.

What could happen to Lester?

The homeowner could spend the rest of his life in jail after prosecutors charged him with two felony counts.

Lester was charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action for the shooting, which had a “racial component,” according to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office.

The charges carry 10 to 30 years behind bars, or life in prison, prosecutors said.

Learn more about the shooting and Ralph Yarl

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the case was getting “the full attention of the Kansas City Police Department.”

“This is not something that has been dismissed, marginalized or diminished in any way,” Lucas added.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump told the Kansas City Star that the homeowner should be charged.

“You can’t just shoot people without having justification when somebody comes knocking on your door and knocking on your door is not justification,” Crump said.

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