On Wednesday, February 19, Andrew Lester reportedly passed away at 86 years old.
“We have learned of the passing of Andrew Lester and extend our sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time,” attorney Zachary Thompson said. “While the legal proceedings have now concluded, we acknowledge that Mr. Lester did take responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty in this case. Our thoughts remain with both families affected by this tragic incident as they continue their healing process.”
On April 13, 2023 at approximately 10 p.m., Ralph Yarl, then 16 years old, went to pick up his brothers from NE 115th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri. However, he mistakenly went to nearby NE 115th Street in Kansas City, Missouri and rang Lester’s doorbell. According to a probable cause statement filed by police, Lester confronted Yarl and shot him through the glass door, striking the teenager in the head and arm.
Lester told police he had gone to bed before Yarl arrived. When the doorbell rang, Lester grabbed his .32-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver and went to the front door. Lester saw Yarl at the door, thought his home was being broken and was “scared to death.” Yarl told police he heard a voice say, “Don’t come around here,” as he laid on the ground after being shot. Lester was taken into custody, but was released hours later.
“We’re frustrated with law enforcement and their failure to take responsibility for the denial of this family’s due process. No one has owned up to it,” Yarl’s family attorney, Lee Merritt, said, “This 16-year-old unarmed boy didn’t actually pose a threat. But far too often in America, his skin alone is his weapon.”
Lester was initially charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action, but he plead not guilty. However, days before trial, he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, which carried a prison sentence up to seven years instead of the maximum of 30 years tied to a Class A first-degree offense.
“About two years ago, we knew Mr. Lester was guilty,” Yarl’s mother, Cleo Nagabe, said. “We let him do what he wanted to do and waited two years after for him to show up and say, ‘I’m going to plead guilty to the lesser of the charges.’ So we’re sick of this. So let’s just move on and give this kid a chance to move on with his life and live on as a regular kid.”
Yarl survived the shooting, returned to school and earned a diploma from Stanley High School before venturing off to Texas A&M University. However, the shooting still follows him as he begins his college career.
“The limelight on it might be dimming, but I don’t really see it coming to a close,” Yarl’s mother, Cleo Nagbe told NBC affiliate, KSHB in Kansas City. “He [Ralph] doesn’t like that you can Google him and see him in that sense. He wants to be seen for his music, he wants to be seen for what he can do in the STEM world, and what he can do to help others. But when you Google him you see ’86-year-old man shoots Black teenager’ and that’s the first thing you will see. That has tainted him so much and I think it will take decades to go away.”
