Ethan Rhodes
Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old Black male, was shot twice in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 13, 2023, after ringing the doorbell at the wrong house while trying to pick up his twin brothers. Yarl was shot by 84-year-old Andrew Daniel Lester, who was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Yarl was hospitalized and eventually released to continue his recovery at home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Ralph Yarl |
| Date of Birth | May 7, 2006 |
| Age | 16 |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) |
| Weight | 140 pounds (64 kg) |
| Hospital Release Date | April 16, 2023 |
| Days in Hospital | 3 |
| Shooter | Andrew Daniel Lester |
| Shooter's Age | 84 |
| Shooter's Status | Pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, died before sentencing |
| Charges | First-degree assault, armed criminal action |
| Lesser Charge | Second-degree assault |
| Maximum Sentence | 7 years |
| Victim's Status | Recovering at home, experiencing migraines, balance issues, mood changes, emotion comprehension issues, and PTSD |
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What You'll Learn
- Ralph Yarl was released from hospital on April 16, 2023
- Yarl spent three nights in hospital after being shot twice
- Yarl suffered gunshot wounds to the head and arm
- The shooter, Andrew Lester, died before legal proceedings concluded
- Yarl's family filed a lawsuit against Lester and the Highland Acres Homes Association
Ralph Yarl was released from hospital on April 16, 2023
Ralph Yarl was released from the hospital on April 16, 2023, just three days after being shot twice by 84-year-old Andrew Daniel Lester. Yarl had mistakenly gone to the wrong house to pick up his twin brothers and rang Lester's doorbell. Lester, who was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, claimed he was acting in self-defense and that he was scared of Yarl's size.
Yarl spent three nights in the hospital recovering from his injuries, which included gunshot wounds to the head and arm. The shooting sparked protests outside of Lester's home and brought national attention to the issue of gun policies and race in the United States. Yarl's family retained civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who demanded swift legal action against Lester.
Despite the serious nature of his injuries, Yarl was fortunate that the bullet did not penetrate his brain. He continued his recovery at home, with his mother, a nurse, taking time off work to care for him. Yarl's father reported that he was making good progress and was responsive.
The shooting had a significant emotional toll on Yarl and his family. They filed a lawsuit against Lester and the Highland Acres Homes Association, Inc., accusing them of "careless and negligent conduct". Lester, who had both heart and memory issues, passed away in February 2025 before the legal proceedings were finalized. As a result, he was not considered a felon under Missouri law, and the case was dismissed.
The shooting of Ralph Yarl and the subsequent release from the hospital sparked a national conversation about gun policies, race, and the impact of mistaken shootings on victims and their families. Yarl's recovery and return home marked a new chapter in his journey towards justice and healing.
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Yarl spent three nights in hospital after being shot twice
Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old Black male, was shot twice on April 13, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. Yarl was trying to pick up his twin brothers and mistakenly went to the wrong address, ending up at the home of 84-year-old Andrew Lester. Lester, who is white, shot Yarl twice through the front glass door with a .32-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, hitting him in the head and arm.
Yarl spent three nights in the hospital recovering from his injuries before being released to continue his recovery at home. During his hospital stay, Yarl received a call from President Joe Biden, who discussed his recovery with Yarl and his mother. Yarl's family also retained civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who demanded swift legal action against Lester.
Lester was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, equivalent to attempted murder in Missouri. He initially claimed that he was acting in self-defense and that he was scared of Yarl's size. However, Yarl disputed Lester's claim that he had put his hand on the door handle. Neighbors reported finding Yarl lying injured in the street, and Kansas City police took Lester into custody.
Lester ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree assault but died before he could be sentenced. Yarl's family expressed a mix of emotions upon hearing the news, as Lester's death meant he was not considered a felon under Missouri law, and the case would be dismissed. They had previously filed a lawsuit against Lester and the Highland Acres Homes Association, accusing them of "careless and negligent conduct".
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Yarl suffered gunshot wounds to the head and arm
Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old Black male, was shot twice by 84-year-old Andrew Daniel Lester, sustaining wounds to the head and arm. Yarl was discharged from the hospital on April 16 and later participated in the "Going the Distance for Brain Injury" event in Kansas City, Missouri. However, his aunt stated that he still suffers from debilitating migraines, balance issues, mood changes, emotion comprehension issues, and PTSD from the shooting.
Gunshot wounds to the head are extremely dangerous and are fatal about 90% of the time. Even for those who survive, about 50% will suffer from seizures and require anti-epilepsy medication. The impact of the bullet can cause a penetrating wound, where the projectile enters but does not exit the cranium, or a perforating wound, where the projectile enters and exits. In Yarl's case, the bullet did not penetrate his brain, but the impact still knocked him to the ground.
The amount of damage caused by a gunshot wound depends on several factors, including the caliber of the gun, the size and speed of the bullet, the trajectory, and the site of the injury. Bullets that pass through the brainstem, multiple lobes of the brain, or chambers of spinal fluid are particularly lethal. Additionally, gunshot wounds to the head can result in traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), with survivors requiring long-term rehabilitation and facing an uncertain path back to their pre-injury functional status.
Wound management and aftercare are crucial for gunshot wounds. Patients may need surgery to address severe wounds or remove bullet fragments that cannot be extracted without causing further damage. Antibiotics and pain relievers are often prescribed to prevent infection and manage discomfort. Elevating the wound above the heart can help reduce swelling, and ice packs may be used with a healthcare provider's approval. Proper wound cleaning and dressing changes are essential to prevent infection and promote healing.
In the case of Ralph Yarl, the gunshot wounds to the head and arm resulted in serious injuries that required hospitalization. While he was eventually discharged and participated in a public event, he continues to experience lasting physical and psychological impacts from the shooting. The specific details of his medical treatment and recovery process are not publicly available, but the aftercare principles mentioned above generally apply to individuals recovering from similar types of gunshot wounds.
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The shooter, Andrew Lester, died before legal proceedings concluded
Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old Black male, was shot twice by 84-year-old Andrew Daniel Lester, a white man, on April 13, 2023. Yarl had mistakenly shown up at Lester's doorstep to pick up his twin brothers from a playdate. He rang the doorbell and waited for a while before someone opened the inner door. Assuming he was at his brother's friend's house, Yarl reached for the storm door, and that was when Lester shot him in the head, uttering, "Don't come here ever again." Lester then shot at Yarl's arm.
Lester was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, both felonies, on April 17, 2023. He was released on Tuesday evening after posting a $200,000 bail bond. Yarl, on the other hand, was released from the hospital on April 16 and participated in the yearly "Going the Distance for Brain Injury" event in Kansas City, Missouri, where his aunt informed reporters about his health issues, including debilitating migraines, balance issues, mood changes, and emotion comprehension, along with PTSD from the shooting.
Lester's trial was delayed indefinitely in September 2024 after his attorney, Steve Salmon, requested a mental evaluation to determine if he was fit to stand trial. Salmon argued that Lester faced health issues, including memory problems, heart issues, and a broken hip, which could impair his ability to understand legal proceedings. Lester had also lost over 50 pounds and exhibited confusion about the case details.
On February 19, 2025, Lester died at the age of 86 before the legal proceedings concluded. Just days before his death, he had pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree assault, which carries up to seven years in prison. Following his death, prosecutors announced their intention to dismiss the case as, under Missouri law, Lester was not considered a felon since the proceedings were not finalized. Yarl's family expressed their disappointment, stating that "news of his death brings a mix of emotions, but it does not bring justice."
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Yarl's family filed a lawsuit against Lester and the Highland Acres Homes Association
Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old Black male, was shot twice by 84-year-old Andrew Daniel Lester on April 13, 2023, after ringing the doorbell at the wrong house while trying to pick up his twin brothers. Yarl was released from the hospital on April 16 and is now a freshman at Texas A&M University.
Lester was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, the equivalent of attempted murder in Missouri. He initially claimed that he believed Yarl was trying to break in and was scared of Yarl's size. However, Yarl testified that he rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer before reaching out to grab the storm door, assuming he was at his brothers' friends' house. Authorities confirmed that Lester shot Yarl twice: first in the head, then in the arm.
Yarl's family retained civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump shortly after the shooting. They filed a lawsuit against Lester and the Highland Acres Homes Association, accusing them of "careless and negligent conduct". The family expressed frustration, stating that Lester's admission of guilt came too late and that his death brought a mix of emotions but not justice.
The shooting of Yarl shocked the country and sparked protests outside the shooter's home, renewing the national debate about gun policies and race in the United States. The Clay County District Attorney stated that there was a "racial component" to the shooting, and President Joe Biden personally called Yarl and his mother to discuss his recovery. Yarl continues to suffer from debilitating migraines, balance issues, mood changes, emotion comprehension issues, and PTSD as a result of the shooting.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Ralph Yarl was released from the hospital on April 16, 2023, three days after being shot.
Ralph Yarl was shot twice by 84-year-old Andrew Lester after ringing the doorbell at the wrong house.
Lester claimed he was acting in self-defense and that he was scared of Yarl's size. However, Lester's grandson stated that he held a negative view of minorities.
Andrew Lester initially faced charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, but later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree assault. However, he died before he could be sentenced, and the case was dismissed.
Ralph Yarl is said to be recovering and making good progress. He later participated in the "Going the Distance for Brain Injury" event in Kansas City, Missouri, but still suffers from various issues such as debilitating migraines, balance issues, and PTSD from the shooting.
