Elderly Defendant Dies After Pleading Guilty in Teen Shooting Case

Andrew Lester, an 86-year-old resident of Missouri, had recently pleaded guilty to a reduced charge—second-degree assault—stemming from the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl. Yarl, mistaken for someone expected on the premises, rang the doorbell one evening, only to be met with a violent response that saw him shot twice. Although the assault charges had originally been more severe, Lester’s plea allowed the legal proceedings to conclude just days before his death.

On the night of the incident, Yarl, who had confused the streets while trying to pick up his siblings, rang the doorbell of the man who would later be implicated in his shooting. Testifying at a hearing, Yarl recounted that he waited for a long time after pressing the bell before the door opened. With little hesitation, Lester shot him in the head and subsequently in the arm, leaving the teen with serious injuries though he eventually recovered enough to be discharged from the hospital within days.

Authorities detailed that Lester’s physical and mental condition had been in decline, noting heart problems, a broken hip, and significant weight loss amidst the harassment and media scrutiny he faced. Despite his attorney asserting that the shooting was an act of self-defense spurred by fear of an unexpected visitor at his door, the legal process was marred by delays that deeply affected Yarl’s family. In their written statement, the family expressed sorrow over the swift conclusion of the case following years of legal maneuvering, lamenting that justice was compromised and the full accountability of the shooting would never be realized.