An 86-year-old white Missouri man who shot a Black teenager after the teen mistakenly rang his doorbell has died while awaiting sentencing in the case, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Andrew Lester, 86, died weeks before he was to be sentenced in the shooting that left then-16-year-old Ralph Yarl with life-threatening injuries, the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office said. The case sparked protests and national outrage in 2023 amid a rash of incidents in which innocent people were shot for mistakenly being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Lester had entered into a plea deal on Friday and admitted shooting Yarl in the forehead and arm. He pled guilty to two felony counts of first-degree assault and armed criminal action; Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson told reporters last week that he would seek a five-year prison sentence.
Yarl’s family said Wednesday that Lester’s death “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.” the family said.
“For nearly two years, Andrew Lester never apologized,” the family added. “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.”
In other unrelated cases around the country at the time, those who made similar mistakes were either shot or killed. Kaylin Gillis, 20, was shot and killed after a driver pulled into the wrong property in New York State. Two Texas cheerleaders were shot and wounded after opening the wrong car door, thinking it was theirs. Brennan Walker was shot at, but not injured, after asking for directions to his school.
Yarl’s shooting also reignited the debate about “stand your ground” laws, which in several states allow a person to use deadly force in self-defense.
Steven Salmon, Lester’s lawyer, didn’t immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
The Clay County prosecutor’s office said in a statement that it was aware of Lester’s death.
“We have learned of the passing of Andrew Lester and extend our sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time. While the legal proceedings have now concluded, we acknowledge that Mr. Lester did take responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty in this case,” the prosecutor’s office said. “Our thoughts remain with both families affected by this tragic incident as they continue their healing process.”
Yarl shot after ringing doorbell at wrong home
Lester shot and injured Yarl on April 13, 2023, after the teen rang his doorbell. Yarl accidentally approached Lester’s home in search of his younger brother’s friend’s house. Lester shot through the screen door and hit Yarl in the forehead and right arm, according to police records. The teen was released from a hospital days after the shooting.
He told police he was “scared to death” because of Yarl’s size and his own older age. Lester said he believed someone was trying to break in when he saw a tall Black man pulling on his front door. A police report on the incident said that Lester was “visibly upset and repeatedly expressed concern for the victim.”
At the time, Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Lee Merritt, hired by Yarl’s family, criticized the way police handled the case. Merritt called for the case to be investigated as a hate crime, but prosecutors never filed such charges.
By Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY