A musically talented Kansas City teen was shot in the head on April 13, reportedly after mistakenly going to the wrong house to pick up his siblings. Ralph Yarl, just 16 years old, was shot twice — once in the head — by the homeowner, who seemingly didn’t want the teen on his property. Police took the alleged shooter into custody shortly afterward and rushed Yarl to a hospital.
In a brief press conference, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves addressed the media, explaining that the incident occurred just after 10 p.m. Police released the shooter after a 24-hour hold, pending further investigation and a statement from the victim. The case has caused outrage in the community, with many wondering if the alleged shooter targeted Yarl because he is Black.
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The teen made an innocent mistake.
Yarl’s aunt, Dr. Faith Spoonmore, told the family’s story on a GoFundMe page created to support the family. She wrote that Yarl intended to pick up his younger twin brothers on the evening of April 13, just a few blocks from his own home, but he accidentally went to the wrong address. She alleged that when he pulled into the driveway and approached the house, a man looked him in the eye and shot him in the head.
According to his aunt, the teen reportedly fell to the ground, and the homeowner shot him again. Spoonmore wrote that Yarl got up and ran from the scene and approached three homes before anyone helped him, with one person reportedly telling him to lie on the ground with his hands up. The incident has left the family devastated.
Yarl is a gifted teen.
Yarl is a good student and talented musician, his aunt wrote. He is a member of many school clubs and attended Missouri State’s Scholar’s Academy last summer. He was named to the Missouri All-State band and played multiple instruments in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra.
The teen has big plans for his future, wanting to attend Texas A&M University and major in chemical engineering. He told his aunt, “Well, if they have a scholarship for music or academics, I know I can get it.”
His family fears that life will never be the same.
While Yarl recovers in the hospital, his loved ones are preparing for a new normal for the rising star. Things may never be the same for him, and his family hopes the community will rally around him during his recovery.
“Life looks a lot different right now. Even though he is doing well physically, he has a long road ahead mentally and emotionally. The trauma that he has to endure and survive is unimaginable,” Spoonmore wrote on the GoFundMe page. “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.”
The GoFundMe account has raised more than $1 million in just a few short days.
As of right now, the shooter is not in jail.
Missouri law says that police can hold a person for up to 24 hours for a suspected felony, Graves explained. After that, the law requires police to charge or release a suspect.
She said that in the vast majority of cases, the police release the suspect pending further investigation, as is the case in this shooting. Prosecutors could not compile enough information to charge the shooter within the 24-hour time frame; therefore, police released him.
“We recognize the frustration this can cause in the entire criminal justice process. The women and men of the Kansas City Police Department are working as expeditiously and as thoroughly as we can to ensure the criminal justice process continues to advance as quickly as all involved and our community deserve,” Graves said. She assured the public that police have a commitment to justice for Yarl and his family.
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The incident has sparked outrage and big conversations.
A quick search of Ralph Yarl on social media brings up numerous posts, questions, and concerns regarding the shooting and the safety of Black young men in the United States. As his story spreads across the country, there is increased talk about gun control and holding people accountable for their actions.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas tweeted his concerns for the community and his confidence in local police.
“I expect authorities to soon complete a thorough investigation and present a full case file to prosecutors. My heart goes out to the child’s mother, his family, and all who know him,” he wrote.
Other comments aren't as hopeful.
A Twitter user replied to Lucas, “Mr. Mayor, our community is having a difficult time understanding why the shooter is not in custody. An attempted murder is one thing, but the shooter not being held is totally mind boggling. KC needs an explanation, now!!!”
“With respect, on what basis was the shooter not arrested? Are we saying that knocking or ringing the doorbell while Black is a potential just cause for being shot?” another person asked in a comment.
“Not sure what additional investigation needs to happen when you put two bullets in an innocent child,” reads another reply.
The family has retained Benjamin L. Crump as their attorney.
