Ralph Yarl: Child prodigy shot in the head after going to the wrong house to pick up siblings
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: A schoolboy is trying to recover not just physically but emotionally and mentally as well after a homeowner shot him in the head when he went to pick up his younger twin siblings. The incident reportedly happened on Thursday night, April 13, when Ralph Yarl went to the wrong house in Kansas City, Missouri, thinking it was his friend's house on 115th Terrace, where his brothers were.
However, things went sideways fast as Faith Spoonmore, the teenager's aunt, explained in a GoFundMe started for him. She wrote, “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. 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.”
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‘He is our miracle’
“Ralph was then able to get up and run to the neighbor's house, looking for help. Unfortunately, he had to run to 3 different homes before someone finally agreed to help him after he was told to lie on the ground with his hands up,” Spoonmore wrote in the fundraiser.
According to the Daily Mail, Yarl is in a stable condition after the attack but as per the fundraiser, “He has a long road ahead mentally and emotionally." It noted, “The trauma that he has to endure and survive is unimaginable. He is our miracle. We have heard these types of stories many times, and unfortunately, most black boys are not alive to get another chance."
“Ralph deserves to have the future that he has dreams about. He deserves to be the light that shows the world that LOVE wins and that humanity is still Good. However, he will need a lot of help to get there. Funds from this account will be used for his medical bills and therapy.” the fundraiser continued.
‘He is a section leader’
Spoonmore called Yarl “a fantastic kid,” before stating, “At school, he is a member of the Technology Student Association and Science Olympia Team. Jazz and competition band. He is a section leader in the marching band; a scholar and one of the top base clarinet players in Missouri. He recently earned Missouri All-State Band recognition with an honorable mention.”
“He plays multiple instruments in the metropolitan youth orchestra. He is a 2022 Missouri scholar academy alumni. Ralph can often be found with a musical instrument. He loves them all. Last summer, Ralph attended Missouri Scholar’s Academy, where he got a full college life experience. His goal is to attend Texas A&M to major in chemical Engineering. 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 continued.
She added, “Ralph's teacher and friends describe him as ‘a kind soul,’ ‘quiet,’ ‘friendly,’ ‘well-mannered,’ ‘always willing to help,’ ‘super smart,’ and a ‘musical genius.’ Ralph was looking forward to graduating high school and finally getting the opportunity to visit West Africa before starting college.”
‘This man must be arrested’
Meanwhile, it has been reported that following the shooting, the unidentified suspect was apprehended but was finally freed “pending further investigation." Reports said that the gun used to shoot Yarl was seized but no charges have been pressed against the accused, leading to a public outcry.
Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt tweeted, “His name is #RalphYarl— a 16 y/o who went to the wrong address to pick up his siblings. He was shot in the head by a white man who didn’t want him on his property. He shot him a 2nd time for emphasis. Ralph is fighting for his life. This man must be arrested. We are on our way.”
His name is #RalphYarl— a 16 y/o who went to the wrong address to pick up his siblings.
— Lee Merritt (@MerrittForTexas) April 16, 2023
He was shot in the head by a white man who didn’t want him on his property. He shot him a 2nd time for emphasis.
Ralph is fighting for his life. This man must be arrested. We are on our way.
However, the Chief of the Kansas City Police Department, Stacey Graves, elaborated on the authorities’ decision of not bringing any charges against the alleged gunman. Graves reportedly said on Sunday, April 16, “The vast majority of cases to include violent crime involve the suspect being released pending further investigation.”
“In this case, the prosecutor requires more information from investigators that would take more than 24 hours to compile throughout the weekend. 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,” Graves added.