It’s been nearly two years since Ralph Yarl, then 16, made a mistake that would change his life forever. The teenager went to pick up his brothers at a home in Kansas City, Missouri, but accidentally rang the wrong doorbell. Andrew Lester, then 84, reportedly shot Yarl in the head. Miraculously, the teenager survived, but nothing has been the same since. Many believe race played a part in the shooting, although Lester’s attorney claimed self-defense.
On February 14, 2025, Lester pleaded guilty in a Kansas City court to a second-degree assault charge in connection with the shooting. A court expected Lester to return for sentencing on March 7, where he faced up to seven years behind bars.
Fox 4 reported that the state wanted the octogenarian to serve five years in prison. But in a strange twist of fate, Lester died days after his court appearance. Officials have not released a cause of death, but Fox 4 reported he did not die by suicide.
A year after the shooting, Yarl opened up to NBC News about how his life changed in the aftermath of the shooting. “It’s definitely a bumpy journey,” Yarl explained. “Whenever there’s something that goes on that reminds me of what happened. I just have, like, such a negative wave of emotions, like anger, like disgust. It’s always a mix of good and bad days. And I feel like the good days are when I’m able to be around people that help me build myself up.”
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Lester’s family didn’t agree with his reported actions. His grandson, Klint Ludwig, told the Kansas City Star not long after the shooting that he could not believe what his grandfather had done.
“I stand with Ralph, and really want his family to achieve justice for what happened to them,” Ludwig said. “Their child or grandchild or nephew’s life was fundamentally changed forever, over a mistake and someone being scared and fearful.”
Following Lester’s death, Yarl’s family released a statement obtained by Fox 4 that reads:
“The news of Andrew Lester’s passing brings a mix of emotions, but it does not bring justice. One of the reasons we pushed for a speedy trial was to ensure the public would see that our society does not condone shooting an unarmed, innocent child simply for ringing the wrong doorbell – especially when that child was targeted because of the color of his skin.
For nearly two years, Andrew Lester never apologized. Instead, he and his attorney used every legal maneuver possible to delay accountability. Now, another Black child harmed by prejudice will never see the man who shot him face the full weight of the justice system. While Lester finally admitted guilt, it came at the very last moment – after two years of stalling. That delay leaves our family reeling.
Some may see Lester’s passing as a form of consequence for his actions, but the reality remains: Ralph Yarl survived, yet justice was never truly served. He has a lifetime ahead to carry the trauma of that night while the man responsible escaped sentencing.
We remain committed to seeking a world where no child fears for their life because of their race and no family has to endure what we have. Ralph’s story is far from over, and neither is our fight for justice.”
– The Family of Ralph Yarl
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After the shooting, loved ones created a GoFundMe account, raising more than $3.4 million for the Yarl family.
