Kansas City Man to Plead Guilty for Shooting Teen Who Mistakenly Rang His Doorbell

In Kansas City, an 86-year-old man named Andrew Lester is set to plead guilty in connection with the 2023 shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl. Yarl, a Black honor student, mistakenly came to Lester’s residence after confusing street names while on his way to pick up his twin siblings. According to reports, Yarl rang the doorbell and waited longer than expected for an answer, only to be confronted by Lester, who fired shots at him shortly after appearing at the door.

During a previous hearing, Yarl testified that he reached for the storm door as it opened, mistakenly assuming he was on the doorstep of his brothers’ friends’ parents. Instead, he encountered Lester, who shot him in the head while uttering a warning not to return, and then hit him in the arm. Although Yarl survived the incident, the physical and emotional impact was substantial, prompting his family to file a lawsuit against Lester.

Lester’s defense team has maintained that he acted in self-defense driven by fear when approached by the unexpected visitor at his doorstep late at night. However, the case, which now involves charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, is moving forward amidst broader national debates over gun control and racial discrimination. With reports suggesting that Lester faces additional health concerns, including heart issues and significant weight loss, the trial has garnered significant media attention while court records remain restricted for prospective jurors.