LIBERTY, Mo. — An elderly man from Kansas City, aged 86, accepted a guilty plea on Friday for a lesser charge related to the shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black high school honor student who mistakenly rang his doorbell. The incident, which took place in 2023, drew significant national attention and sparked discussions about gun regulations and racial issues in the United States.
Andrew Lester was originally set to go to trial the following week facing first-degree assault and armed criminal action for the shooting of Yarl, who was only 16 at the time. Now a freshman at Texas A&M University, Yarl participates in the school’s ROTC and marching band after surviving the attack.
Under a plea agreement, Lester pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, a charge that could result in a prison sentence of up to seven years. As he was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair with his hands folded, Judge David Chamberlain announced that Lester’s sentencing is scheduled for March 7. Yarl and his mother, Cleo Nagbe, were present in the front row during the proceedings.
Following the plea deal, Nagbe expressed gratitude to the supporters of her family who recognized Yarl’s humanity and opposed a world where fear and bias could threaten innocent lives. “Though this is a step towards accountability, true justice calls for a response that corresponds to the gravity of his actions. Anything less would fail to acknowledge the damage caused,” she stated.
The prosecution will advocate for a five-year sentence for Lester, as noted by Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson after the hearing. “Self-defense has its limits,” he indicated.
Had Lester been convicted of first-degree assault, he could have faced up to 30 years in prison. To establish second-degree assault, defendants must demonstrate that their actions were influenced by sudden emotions stemming from provocation. J.R. Hobbs, a defense attorney from Kansas City not associated with this case, suggested that this charge might serve as a compromise and argued that feelings of fear may not provide a complete defense.
The incident occurred on the night of April 13, 2023, when Yarl mistakenly went to Lester’s residence, thinking it was the correct location to collect his twin siblings. Lester’s lawyer, Steve Salmon, maintained that his client acted out of fear and perceived threat when Yarl knocked on his door while he was preparing for bed. Reports indicate that Lester shot Yarl twice: first in the head, followed by another shot in the arm.
Yarl recounted during a previous hearing that he had waited for what felt like an excessive amount of time after ringing the doorbell. As he attempted to grab the storm door upon its opening, Lester reportedly shot him and insisted, “Don’t come here ever again.” Though the bullet did not penetrate Yarl’s skull, it knocked him to the ground, where he was shot again in the arm. He was hospitalized and discharged after three days.
The aftermath of the shooting has significantly affected Yarl and his family, who are pursuing a lawsuit against Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic. Salmon, Lester’s attorney, noted earlier that Lester’s health had sharply declined following the incident, citing heart problems, a broken hip, and other medical issues. He also mentioned that Lester had lost a substantial amount of weight due to stress from the extensive media focus and threats to his life.
During the latest hearing, Judge Chamberlain inquired about Lester’s health, to which he affirmed that he was not well. A spokesperson for Yarl’s family indicated that “Ralph is doing his best to be okay,” following the trauma they have experienced.
Previously, a mental evaluation of Lester was mandated by the court, but the trial proceeded once it was completed, with results remaining confidential.
