Ralph Yarl: Missouri home where teen was shot had 'NO SOLICITORS' and surveillance protection warning signs
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: The Kansas City home where 16-year-old Ralph Yarl was shot in the head by a White homeowner after ringing the wrong doorbell reportedly had door signs warning trespassers, the Daily Mail reported. A small sign reading “no solicitors” was reportedly on the doorbell of the house while another sign on the property read “'protected by surveillance cameras,” the outlet noted. Reports suggest Yarl, a Black teen, mistakenly reached the wrong house to pick up his younger twin brothers who were waiting for him just a block away from the property.
The teen’s family confirmed that he went to collect his younger siblings but arrived at the wrong address. Yarl was reportedly shot through the glass in front of the house. It is unclear if the teen noticed the signs while ringing the doorbell or pulling up on the driveway around 10 pm on April 13. The suspect involved in the shooting was identified as Andrew D Lester and a lawyer for Yarl’s family confirmed that he was released on $200K bond within two hours of the arrest, the publication reported. Lester has been charged with 2 felonies - assault in the first degree and armed criminal action for the shooting, confirmed the Clay County Prosecutor Office on Monday, April 17.
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Ralph Yarl: GoFundMe for Missouri teen shot after ringing doorbell of wrong home raises over $2M
Yarl was reportedly discharged from hospital on Monday, April 17, and will continue to recover at home with his mother who is a nurse, the outlet shared. “He continues to improve. He’s responsive and he’s making good progress,” the teen's father Paul Yarl said.
‘He wasn’t soliciting’
The internet was quick to respond to the latest update surrounding Yarl’s shooting. “He wasn’t soliciting,” one user wrote on Twitter while reacting to the information on the warning signs placed on the suspect’s doorbell. “I think my apartments has a sign like that, doesn't mean I can shoot someone for knocking on my door,” another added. “So, this is going to be the defense for shooting this poor boy in the head for mistakingly ringing the wrong doorbell? Disgusting,” a third user wrote.
Meanwhile one argued, “He entered the home, don't believe everything you you see at first glance.” Another user said, “That’s the smallest no solicitor sign I’ve seen. I’m sure a 80 year old couldn’t see that far”. Another said, “He wasn't soliciting though he went to the wrong house to pick up his sister.”
I think my apartments has a sign like that, doesn't mean I can shoot someone for knocking on my door
— dizzy_hogan (@Dizzy_Hogan) April 17, 2023
So, this is going to be the defense for shooting this poor boy in the head for mistakingly ringing the wrong doorbell? Disgusting.
— Zina Cary (@ZinaDCary) April 17, 2023
He entered the home, don't believe everything you you see at first glance
— Marc Kelsey (@MarcKelsey4) April 17, 2023
That’s the smallest no solicitor sign I’ve seen. I’m sure a 80 year old couldn’t see that far.
— Sam De La Garza (@SamDeLaGarzaMX) April 17, 2023
he wasn't soliciting though
— Cuban Elon Musk (@InternetBot404) April 18, 2023
he went to the wrong house to pick up his sister
‘We are committed to justice in this case’
On Sunday, April 16, Police Chief Stacey Graves shared a statement regarding the development in the case during a press conference. “I want everyone to know that I am listening and I understand the concern we are receiving from the community,” she said. “After consulting with the Clay County Prosecutor's Office, the homeowner was released pending further investigation due to the need to obtain a formal statement from the victim, forensic evidence and compile additional information for a case file to be presented,” the chief explained.
“Detectives have been working over the past several days to compile a detailed case file so they have all the information they need to make the best charging decision on the case moving forward. We want the community to know that we are committed to justice in this case, and every case and work every day to seek that justice for all victims of all crimes,” she added.
Graves also noted that Missouri law allows a person to be held up to 24 hours for a felony investigation, before being arrested or formally charged. She also said that investigators will consider whether or not the suspect was protected within the Stand Your Ground laws, the Daily Mail noted.
Yarl’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign in the wake of the shooting. The fundraiser has raised more than $2.6M as of Tuesday afternoon.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.