On Monday, an 84-year-old white man from Kansas City, Missouri, was charged with first-degree assault for shooting a Black teenager who mistakenly entered the man’s home to pick up his younger siblings.

According to prosecuting attorney Zachary Thompson, there was a “racial component” to the incident on Thursday evening when Andrew Lester shot 16-year-old Ralph Yarl twice, the Associated Press reported.

Yarl is currently recovering at home after being discharged from the hospital. However, Thompson clarified that the charging documents do not suggest that the shooting was racially motivated.

Thompson also stated at a news conference that while he understands the frustration surrounding the case, he is confident in the criminal justice system and its ability to work towards a just outcome.

The shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl, a Black teen who was mistakenly shot by an 84-year-old white man in Kansas City, Missouri, has sparked outrage and demands for justice from civic and political leaders, including President Joe Biden.

Yarl, an honor student and all-state band member, went to the wrong house to pick up his two younger brothers when Andrew Lester shot him in the forehead and again in the right forearm.

While the charging documents do not suggest the shooting was racially motivated, Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson acknowledged a “racial component” to the incident, as reported by the AP.

No words were exchanged before the shooting, but Yarl heard Lester yell “Don’t come around here” as he ran for help.

Written by staff