Kansas City Man to Plead Guilty in Ralph Yarl Shooting Case

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — An 86-year-old Kansas City man is expected to plead guilty on Friday to charges resulting from the shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black honor student who mistakenly rang his doorbell in 2023. Andrew Lester had been facing trial next week on charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action in this high-profile case that has renewed discussions on gun laws and racial dynamics in the U.S.

Yarl, then 16, was shot when he approached Lester’s house after allegedly mixing up addresses while attempting to pick up his twin siblings. Two sources familiar with the case, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed to The Associated Press that Lester would plead guilty, potentially to a lesser charge of second-degree assault.

On Thursday, prosecutors indicated that Lester would appear in court on Friday but did not disclose the reasons for the hearing or further details. His attorney, Steve Salmon, has argued that Lester acted out of fear, claiming he was startled by the unexpected arrival of a stranger at his door late at night.

In testimony from a prior hearing, Yarl recounted that he rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer, finding the silence prolonged. When Lester opened the inner door, Yarl thought he was meeting with parents of his brothers’ friends.

Yarl recalled Lester shooting him in the head, stating, “Don’t come here ever again” before he was shot again in the arm. The bullet that struck Yarl’s head did not penetrate his brain, though the impact rendered him unconscious. Following the incident, Yarl was hospitalized for three days.

Yarl’s family has reported significant emotional stress stemming from the shooting and has since filed a civil lawsuit against Lester. As the impending trial approached, the court imposed restrictions on the accessibility of online case records to prevent potential jurors from being influenced by public information.

The prosecutor’s office confirmed that there have been no new filings in the case this month. Salmon indicated last year that Lester has faced numerous health challenges, including heart issues and a broken hip, which have been compounded by the intense media scrutiny and alleged death threats against him post-incident. Despite these claims, details from a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation of Lester remain unpublished.

This case has garnered extensive media coverage and sparked ongoing dialogue regarding gun policies in the United States, illustrating broader societal tensions relating to race and self-defense rights.

Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kansas.