Logan Reid
Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old Black male, was shot twice, including once in the head, after ringing the doorbell at the wrong house in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 13, 2023. Yarl was trying to pick up his twin brothers and mistakenly went to a home less than a block away. The shooter, 84-year-old Andrew Daniel Lester, was charged with armed criminal action and first-degree assault, equivalent to attempted murder in Missouri. Yarl was hospitalized and suffered a traumatic brain injury, requiring months of recovery. He was discharged from the hospital on April 16, 2023, just three days after the shooting, and has since participated in events to raise awareness for brain injury.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of discharge from the hospital | April 15 or 16, 2023 |
| Number of days in the hospital | 2 or 3 |
| Ability to walk after being discharged | Able to walk some in the hospital parking lot |
| Recovery | Suffered from debilitating migraines, balance issues, focus issues, mood changes, and PTSD |
| Social hurdles | Being around a large crowd |
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What You'll Learn
- Ralph Yarl was discharged from the hospital on April 15 or 16, 2023
- Yarl suffered gunshot wounds to the head and arm
- The shooter, Andrew Lester, pled guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree assault
- Yarl's family filed a lawsuit against Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic
- Yarl continues to suffer from debilitating migraines, balance issues, mood changes, and PTSD
Ralph Yarl was discharged from the hospital on April 15 or 16, 2023
Yarl was stabilised at the nearest hospital and then transferred to a children's hospital, where he underwent surgery. Against the odds, he survived the life-threatening injuries and was discharged after just a few days.
Yarl's recovery was described as miraculous by his father, who told reporters that his son had even been able to walk from the hospital lobby to the parking lot. However, the shooting took a significant emotional toll on Yarl and his family, and they have since experienced PTSD symptoms and emotional difficulties.
In the weeks following his discharge, Yarl participated in a Memorial Day walk to raise money for traumatic brain injury victims, marking his first major public appearance since the attack. Yarl's story sparked national conversations about gun violence and the impact of brain injuries, with Yarl himself inspiring others by sharing his story and advocating for greater awareness of the issues.
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Yarl suffered gunshot wounds to the head and arm
On April 13, 2023, 16-year-old Ralph Yarl was shot twice—in the head and in the arm—after ringing the doorbell at the wrong house in Kansas City, Missouri. Yarl was attempting to pick up his twin brothers from their friend's house and mistakenly went to a home less than a block away on NE 115th Street.
Investigators allege that 84-year-old Andrew Daniel Lester shot Yarl twice through the house's front glass door with a .32-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver. The bullet to Yarl's head did not penetrate his brain, but the impact knocked him to the ground. Lester claimed that Yarl put his hand on the door handle, though Yarl disputes this.
Yarl was taken to the hospital that night with serious injuries. He was released three days later, on April 16, and was even able to walk in the hospital parking lot. Yarl's father called his son's recovery "nothing short of a miracle."
Yarl suffered debilitating physical and emotional consequences as a result of the shooting. He experienced migraines, balance issues, mood changes, emotion comprehension issues, and PTSD. In an interview with CBS Mornings, Yarl's mother, Cleo Nagbe, described the emotional toll on her son:
> "He’s able to communicate mostly when he feels like it, but mostly he just sits there and stares and the buckets of tears just roll down his eyes...You can see that he just replays the situation over and over again and that just doesn’t stop my tears either. Because when you see your kid just sits there and constantly, and the tears are just rolling from both sides of his eyes, there’s nothing you can say to him.”
On May 29, 2023, Yarl participated in the "Going the Distance for Brain Injury" event in Kansas City, Missouri, alongside his family and friends. This was his first major public appearance since the shooting.
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The shooter, Andrew Lester, pled guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree assault
Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old Black teenager, was shot twice after ringing the doorbell at the wrong house in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 13, 2023. Yarl was trying to pick up his twin brothers and mistakenly ended up at the wrong address. The shooter, 84-year-old Andrew Daniel Lester, was charged with armed criminal action and first-degree assault, the equivalent of attempted murder in Missouri.
Initially, Lester stated to the police that he believed Yarl was trying to break in and that he was “scared to death” of Yarl's size. However, investigators alleged that Lester shot Yarl twice through the house's front glass door with a .32-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver.
On February 14, 2025, four days before his trial was set to begin, Lester pled guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree assault. The plea came on the eve of his trial in Clay County Circuit Court, which was scheduled to begin on February 18. Lester, who was 86 years old at the time of the plea, appeared in court in a wheelchair and agreed with the judge's assessment that his health was "not great."
Lester's trial had been delayed for several months, causing frustration for Yarl's family. They also expressed disappointment with the plea deal, stating that it did not address the trauma they and Yarl had endured, nor did it address perceived failures in the justice system, including racial bias. Yarl's mother, Cleo Nagbe, emphasized that true justice requires consequences that reflect the severity of Lester's actions.
Unfortunately, before legal proceedings were finalized, Lester passed away on February 19, 2025, at the age of 86. Due to his death, he was not considered a felon under Missouri law, and prosecutors moved to dismiss the case. Yarl's family issued a statement, acknowledging Lester's admission of guilt but noting that it came at the very last moment after two years of stalling.
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Yarl's family filed a lawsuit against Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic
On April 13, 2023, 16-year-old Ralph Yarl was shot twice by 84-year-old Andrew Daniel Lester after mistakingly ringing the doorbell at the wrong house while trying to pick up his twin brothers. Yarl was discharged from the hospital on April 16, 2023, and President Joe Biden called him and his mother to discuss his recovery.
Yarl's family filed a civil lawsuit against Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic, and the Highland Acres homeowners association, claiming that little progress had been made in the case and that the association failed to administer aid after the shooting. They also accused the association of neglecting to educate its residents on firearm usage in the neighborhood and failing to render aid to Yarl after he was shot. The lawsuit states that Lester never contacted the police before the shooting to signal that he felt threatened or endangered and that the HOA was aware or should have been aware of Lester’s propensity for violence, access to dangerous weapons, and racial animus. As a result of the shooting, Yarl suffered severe injuries and emotional trauma, and the family is seeking financial compensation to cover medical bills and other costs.
Lester was initially charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, but he pleaded not guilty, arguing that he was protecting himself because he believed someone was trying to rob him late at night. However, Yarl's family disputed this, claiming that Lester never contacted the police before the shooting and that his actions were influenced by racial bias. Lester's attorney, Steve Salmon, argued that Lester's mental and physical health was a factor in the case, and the trial date was postponed to allow for a mental health evaluation.
In February 2025, just days before the rescheduled trial was set to begin, Lester pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree assault. Prosecutors were seeking a five-year prison sentence. However, on February 19, 2025, it was announced that Lester had died at the age of 86. Due to his death before the legal proceedings were finalized, Lester was not considered a felon under Missouri law, and the case was dismissed. Yarl's family expressed disappointment in a statement, acknowledging the emotional toll of the shooting and the lack of justice brought about by Lester's death.
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Yarl continues to suffer from debilitating migraines, balance issues, mood changes, and PTSD
Ralph Yarl was discharged from the hospital on April 16, 2023, three days after being shot twice in the head and arm by 84-year-old Andrew Daniel Lester, who lived at the wrong address Yarl had accidentally shown up at. Yarl continues to suffer from debilitating migraines, balance issues, mood changes, and PTSD.
Yarl's recovery has been challenging due to these persistent symptoms. Migraines can be extremely painful and debilitating, making it difficult for Yarl to carry out daily tasks and participate in activities he once enjoyed. Balance issues can also significantly impact his mobility and independence, requiring ongoing physical therapy and support. Mood changes and PTSD can affect Yarl's mental health and well-being, causing emotional distress and potentially impacting his social life and relationships.
The combination of these symptoms may result in a prolonged recovery process and a need for continuous medical care and emotional support. Yarl's aunt, Faith Spoonmore, has been instrumental in his recovery, providing a safe space for him to live as he was unable to return to his home in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred. She also successfully created a GoFundMe page to help cover Yarl's extensive medical bills.
Yarl's family has been a strong source of support, with his mother, a nurse, and his aunt, a physical therapist, providing him with excellent care at home. President Joe Biden even called Yarl and his mother to discuss his recovery, showing the level of support and attention Yarl's story received nationwide. Despite these positive influences, Yarl's symptoms continued to affect him, as evidenced by his participation in the \"Going the Distance for Brain Injury\" event in Kansas City, Missouri, where he walked alongside his mother to raise awareness and funds for brain injury victims.
Yarl's ongoing struggles with migraines, balance issues, mood changes, and PTSD highlight the long-term impact of his traumatic experience. It demonstrates the complexity of brain injury recovery and the need for ongoing support and understanding from his community. While Yarl has made significant progress, his journey toward healing is far from over, and he will likely continue to face challenges as he navigates life after the shooting.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Ralph Yarl was discharged from the hospital on April 16, three days after he was shot.
Ralph Yarl was shot twice in the head and arm on April 13, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. The 16-year-old had mistakenly gone to the wrong address while trying to pick up his twin brothers.
Andrew Daniel Lester, an 84-year-old Kansas City resident, was charged with the shooting.
Lester pled guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree assault in February 2025, but died at the age of 86 before he could be sentenced.
