Ralph Yarl shooting - update: Andrew Lester surrenders after claiming he shot teen because he was ‘scared’

Ralph Yarl shooting suspect Andrew Lester has turned himself in to authorities almost 20 hours after Kansas City prosecutors pressed felony charges against him.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office announced that the 84-year-old had “surrendered” at a detention centre just before 2.30pm Tuesday - more than 20 hours after charges were filed. He is currently in the booking process.

Prosecutors allege that the white homeowner twice shot 16-year-old Ralph, who is recovering at home after being released from the hospital.

Mr Lester told investigators that he had just lain down when the doorbell rang, he picked up a .32 pistol and opened the interior door of his house.

He told police that he saw a Black male pulling on the exterior door and thought he was trying to break into the property. He claimed he was “scared to death” at the boy’s size and feared he was unable to defend himself given his elderly age, the documents state.

Several celebrities including Viola Davis, Halle Berry and Chrissy Teigen have joined in the outrage, speaking out about the case on social media. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe to help Ralph with medical costs has now topped $2.8m.

Key points

• Ralph Yarl shooting: Prosecutors charge white homeowner Andrew Lester, 85, with attacking Black teenager

• Black teen Ralph Yarl, 16, shot by white homeowner in Kansas City

• Teen had accidentally gone to wrong house to pick up brothers

• Actors Halle Berry, Viola Davis voice outrage over shooting

• Protests unfold in streets of Kansas City over Ralph Yarl shooting

Andrew Lester released on bond, reports say

21:18 , Megan Sheets

Andrew Lester has reportedly been released on bond just hours after being taken into custody.

Mr Lester’s bond was set at $200,000 when prosecutors filed charges against him on Monday afternoon.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office announced that he had surrendered and been booked into a detention centre just before 1.30pm local time on Tuesday.

Just after 3pm local time, reports emerged that he had already bonded out.

GoFundMe nears $3m as high-profile figures join campaign

21:08 , Megan Sheets

Comedian Ellyn Daniels has donated $15,000 to a GoFundMe campaign for Ralph Yarl that has now raised more than $2.9m.

Daniels has been joined in donating to the fund by the likes of Madonna’s manager Guy Oseary who gave $5,000 and TV star Julianne Hough, who donated $1,000.

Influencer and entrepreneur Jayde Cheaves gave $5,000 to the fund, and artist Rashid Johnson also donated $1,000.

The Independent’s Graeme Massie has more:

Comedian Ellyn Daniels donates $15,000 to Ralph Yarl GoFundMe campaign

Missouri’s stand your ground law explained

20:45 , Rachel Sharp

Missouri has a “stand your ground” law allowing an individual “to use physical force upon another person when and to the extent he or she reasonably believes such force to be necessary to defend himself or herself or a third person from what he or she reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful force by such other person”.

Under the law, the individual does not have a duty to retreat before using force on the other person.

Stand your ground and self-defence laws are controversial and have been used to acquit individuals in high-profile cases.

For example, Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty for killing two men and wounding another in a shooting at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.

Prior to this, George Zimmerman avoided conviction for shooting dead Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said at a press conference on Sunday that investigators were reviewing whether or not Andrew Lester was protected by the state’s laws. He was charged on Monday.

Biden releases photo of call with Ralph Yarl

20:20 , Megan Sheets

President Joe Biden released a photo of himself on the phone with Ralph Yarl on Tuesday afternoon.

“Last night, I had a chance to call Ralph Yarl and his family,” he wrote in the caption of a tweet.

“No parent should have to worry that their kid will be shot after ringing the wrong doorbell.

“We’ve got to keep up the fight against gun violence.And Ralph, we’ll see you in the Oval once you feel better.”

Ralph Yarl’s family currently meeting with Clay County prosecutor

20:10 , Megan Sheets

Ralph Yarl’s family is currently in a meeting with Clay County Prosecutor Zach Thompson.

The family’s attorney, Lee Merritt, announced the meeting following the first interview with Ralph’s mother earlier on Tuesday,

Andrew Lester seen in new mugshot

19:47 , Megan Sheets

A new mugshot has been released following Andrew Lester’s arrest.

The photo was taken on Tuesday afternoon when he was booked into a Clay County detention centre after surrendering.

Andrew Lester turns himself

19:29 , Megan Sheets

Suspect Andrew Lester has now turned himself in to authorities.

The news on Tuesday afternoon came more than 20 hours after the Clay County prosecutor’s office announced felony charges against the 84-year-old for the shooting of Ralph Yarl.

“Andrew Lester, charged in the shooting of Ralph Yarl, has surrendered at our Detention Center and is in custody,” the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said. “He is in the booking process right now.”

The Independent’s Graeme Massie reports:

Ralph Yarl shooting suspect Andrew Lester turns himself into police

Ralph Yarl’s mother reveals horror injuries as Black teen had bullet lodged in head for 12 hours

19:03 , Graeme Massie

Ralph Yarl had a bullet in his head for 12 hours after Andrew Lester shot him twice through a glass screen door.

Rachel Sharp has the details.

Ralph Yarl’s mother reveals horror injuries after shooting

Ralph Yarl's mother describes son's injuries from shooting

18:48 , Graeme Massie

The Ralph Yarl shooting – and what happened after – must be a wake up call

18:35 , Graeme Massie

When a Black child is shot for ringing a doorbell, alarms ought to go off, writes Michael Arceneaux.

The Ralph Yarl shooting – and what happened after – must be a wake up call | Voices

Ralph Yarl’s mother breaks silence over son’s shooting

18:15 , Megan Sheets

Ralph Yarl’s mother Cleo Nagbe has broken her silence over her son’s shooting.

“He got a couple of bullets inside his body, instead of a couple of twins coming out and giving him a hug,” she said.

Where is Andrew Lester?

17:50 , Megan Sheets

Ralph Yarl shooting suspect Andrew Lester has still not been taken into custody more than 18 hours after prosecutors pressed felony charges against him.

Clay County prosecutor Zachary Thompson confirmed in a press conference on Monday afternoon that “there was a racial component to the case” as he announced Mr Lester had been charged with two felonies: assault in the first degree, which carries a punishment of 10 to 30 years or life imprisonment, and armed criminal action, which carries a punishment of 3 to 15 years.

A Clay County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson confirmed to The Independent that as of 12pm ET on Tuesday, the 84-year-old suspect was not in custody “with any law enforcement agency.”

A bond had been set at $200,000 when Mr Lester is finally taken into custody by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

The Independent’s Graeme Massie has more:

Ralph Yarl shooting suspect still not arrested 18 hours after being charged

Missouri’s gun laws explained:

17:40 , Rachel Sharp

Missouri is a permitless carry state meaning that people can carry hidden, loaded handguns in public without a permit or safety training.

There is also no law requiring background checks on unlicensed gun sales.

In the state, 1,351 people die by guns in Missouri, according to Everytown.

Andrew Lester’s home was surrounded by security cameras

17:20 , Rachel Sharp

Andrew Lester’s home was surrounded by security cameras when he shot Black teenager Ralph Yarl in the head, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Officers arrived on the scene at around 9.52pm on Thursday night to reports of a shooting and found the 16-year-old with gunshot wounds.

After being directed to a home where neighbours believed the shooting took place, they found Mr Lester standing inside his house with the glass storm door shattered from the bullets.

The officer noted in the documents that there were cameras on the south and east side of the home.

However, the cameras did not capture what happened as the system was “no longer functional”.

In fact, the last footage captured on the cameras was back on 25 June 2022.

VOICES: The Ralph Yarl shooting must be a wake up call

17:54 , Megan Sheets

In a new column for The Independent, Michael Arceneaux delves into the frustrating question of why the man who allegedly shot Ralph Lester still has yet to be taken into custody.

“I have been fortunate enough to have visited Kansas City because of my books. It is a lovely city with a booming Black arts scene and good BBQ. Yet, I did notice during my time there – and was frequently stressed to me as it so often is, particularly in certain parts of America – how segregated the city remains and how much racism permeates,” he writes.

“What happened to Ralph Yarl and what has happened since then speaks to that division – and how violent and unjust it remains.

“When an old white man shoots a Black child for ringing his doorbell, some alarm bells ought to go off – especially for those responsible for prosecuting crimes.

“Lester was indeed taken into custody after the shooting and placed on a 24-hour hold. As mandated by state law, a person suspected of a felony must be charged under that period or be released. Everything about this screams crime and racism yet it appears Lester was released after less than two hours.

“It took days and a national outcry including the likes of President Joe Biden and A-list celebrities like Halle Berry, Kerry Washington, Naomi Campbell and Gwyneth Paltrow, but days later, finally Lester was charged with two crimes in the April 13th shooting.”

Read more:

The Ralph Yarl shooting – and what happened after – must be a wake up call | Voices

Vice President Kamala Harris says ‘every child deserves to be safe’ after shooting

17:00 , Rachel Sharp

Vice President Kamala Harris has condemned the shooting of Ralph Yarl.

“Doug and I are praying for Ralph Yarl and his family as he fights for his life,” she said in a statement on Twitter.

“Let’s be clear: No child should ever live in fear of being shot for ringing the wrong doorbell. Every child deserves to be safe. That’s the America we are fighting for.”

Why hasn’t Andrew Lester been charged with attempted murder?

16:40 , Rachel Sharp

Andrew Lester was charged with two felonies on Monday – assault in the first degree and armed criminal action.

During a press conference on Monday, Prosecutor Zachary Thompson was asked why he had not been charged with attempted murder for shooting the unarmed teenager through a glass door.

The prosecutor said that the two charges filed are class A felonies – the highest level of crime in the state of Missouri – and so the suspect is facing life in prison.

Kaylin Gillis: What we know about the fatal shooting of New York woman who entered the wrong driveway

16:20 , Rachel Sharp

It was a Saturday night and a group of friends were going to visit another friend.

One of them would end up dead – the latest victim of a random act of gun violence in America.

Kaylin Gillis, 20, was fatally shot all because they took the wrong turning and ended up in the wrong driveway of the wrong home.

And because the homeowner Kevin Monahan decided to grab a firearm and open fire on the vehicle.

Mr Monahan, 65, is now behind bars charged with the 20-year-old’s murder while her family and friends have been left to grieve the life tragically stolen.

Here’s what we know so far about the case:

Kaylin Gillis: What we know about fatal shooting of New York woman

Gabby Giffords speaks out about Ralph Yarl shooting

16:00 , Rachel Sharp

Gabby Giffords has also spoken out about the shooting of Ralph Yarl.

The former congresswoman, who was critically injured after being shot in 2011, tweeted on Monday: “As someone who is still recovering from a gunshot to the head, I am heartbroken and infuriated that Ralph Yarl now faces a lifetime of recovery. At 16 years old.

“For simply ringing a doorbell. We cannot continue to be a nation defined by gun violence and injustice.”

Ralph Yarl’s aunt welcomes charges

15:40 , Rachel Sharp

Ralph Yarl’s aunt Faith Spoonmore has welcomed the charges against Andrew Lester.

But she told CNN that the family has a long roads ahead as the 16-year-old recovers from his injuries and as they pursue justice against the shooter.

“It’s not as simple as turning a page,” she said Tuesday.

“It’s a little better that he is – hopefully – going to get part of what of he deserves.”

A familiar story: Shot over the wrong door, the wrong driveway

15:20 , Rachel Sharp

The fatal shooting of a 20-year-old in New York shares eerily similar circumstances with the shooting of a Black teenager in Missouri.

Just two days after Ralph Yarl was shot in the head by a homeowner when he got the wrong house in Missouri, Kaylin Gillis was shot dead by a homeowner for turning onto the wrong driveway.

Gillis and was travelling in a car with three friends when they made a wrong turn looking for a friend’s house in Hebron, rural upstate New York, on Saturday night.

Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy said at a press conference on Monday that the group accidentally drove into the driveway of Mr Monahan’s home.

At that point, the 65-year-old allegedly came out onto his front porch and opened fire on the vehicle.

“It’s a very rural area with dirt roads. It’s easy to get lost. They drove up this driveway for a very short time, realised their mistake and were leaving, when Mr Monahan came out and fired two shots,” said the sheriff.

Police said Mr Monahan fired two shots – one of which struck Gillis inside the vehicle.

Due to the lack of cellphone reception in the remote area where the shooting took place, the group drove to the neighbouring town of Salem to call 911.

Emergency responders arrived on the scene but Gillis was pronunced dead from her injuries.

Missouri’s stand your ground law explained:

15:00 , Rachel Sharp

Missouri has a “stand your ground” law allowing an individual “to use physical force upon another person when and to the extent he or she reasonably believes such force to be necessary to defend himself or herself or a third person from what he or she reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful force by such other person”.

Under the law, the individual does not have a duty to retreat before using force on the other person.

Stand your ground and self-defence laws are controversial and have been used to acquit individuals in high-profile cases.

For example, Kyle Rittenhouse was found not guilty for killing two men and wounding another in a shooting at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.

Prior to this, George Zimmerman avoided conviction for shooting dead Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said at a press conference on Sunday that investigators were reviewing whether or not Andrew Lester was protected by the state’s laws. He was charged on Monday.

What we know about white homeowner charged with shooting Ralph Yarl

14:40 , Rachel Sharp

Black teenager Ralph Yarl was shot by a white homeowner after he accidentally rang the doorbell at the wrong address while going to collect his brothers.

The 16-year-old accidental visit to Andrew Lester’s home in the Northland suburb of Kansas City quickly turned violent and the high school student was left hospitalised with serious injuries.

Instead of going to a home in the 1100 block of Northeast 115th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, to pick up his brothers, he mistakenly went to Northeast 115th Street, police said.

Now prosecutors have brought charges against the homeowner.

Here is everything we know about the suspect:

What we know about white homeowner charged with shooting Ralph Yarl

What was the motive for the shooting?

14:20 , Rachel Sharp

Initially, officials denied any “racial” element to the shooting and offered no motive for the gunman opening fire on the teen.

Speaking on Sunday, the police chief said that there was no evidence to indicate that the shooting was racially motivated.

But then on Monday, when charges were announced, the prosecutor said he believed “there was a racial component to the case” but did not give details as to what led officials to that conclusion.

The probable cause document also does not reveal what information has led officials to believe this.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump told CNN that he believes things would have been different if the races of the suspect and victim were reversed.

“Nobody can tell us if the roles were reversed, and you had a Black man shoot a white, 16-year-old teenager for merely ringing his doorbell that he would not be arrested,” he said.

“I mean, this citizen went home and slept in his bed at night after shooting that young Black kid in the head.”

Neighbour who responded to shooting speaks out

14:00 , Rachel Sharp

Neighbours have now spoken out about the shooting including one man – James Lynch, 42 – who said he ran to the boy’s aid.

Mr Lynch, who lives on Northeast 115 Street, told NBC News that he heard loud screams and someone shouting “help, help, I’ve been shot!”at around 10pm on Thursday night and went to see what the commotion was.

At first, he said he thought Ralph Yarl was dead and noticed what looked like a hole in his head near his eye socket.

“I thought he was dead,” he said.

“No one deserves to lay there like that. He hasn’t even begun to live his life yet. He didn’t deserve to get shot.”

He said he told the teen “I’m going to grab your hand really tight” and then launched into his Eagle Scout training, keeping Ralph awake until EMTs arrived.

“I didn’t do anything but hold a kid’s hand so he wouldn’t feel alone,” Mr Lynch said.

“He had just gotten shot twice; he had a hole in the side of his head.”

He added: “That kid is tougher than I am.”

Why is the man who shot Ralph Yarl still free?

13:40 , Rachel Sharp

On Monday – four days after Ralph Yarl was shot in the head – the white homeowner who pulled the trigger was finally charged with a crime.

Andrew Lester was charged with two felonies including first-degree assault.

However, even then, he was not in police custody.

A warrant was issued for his arrest and bond was set at $200,000 but Mr Lester, 84, was not in jail as of Monday night.

CATCH UP: Prosecutors charge Andrew Lester for shooting Ralph Yarl

13:20 , Rachel Sharp

What we know about the shooting of Black teen who went to wrong house

13:00 , Rachel Sharp

Ralph Yarl found himself lying in a hospital bed with gunshot wounds to the left forehead and right arm.

Harrowing photos showed the Black teenager with tubes coming out of him and his head and right arm wrapped up in bandages.

He is alive but his family says he has a long road to recovery ahead – a recovery that threatens to derail his dreams of going off to college to pursue a career in engineering.

So how did he end up here?

He went to pick up his younger brothers from a friend’s house, accidentally rang the doorbell at the wrong address and was shot twice by the 84-year-old white homeowner, Andrew Lester.

Here’s everything we know so far about the case:

Ralph Yarl: What we know about the shooting of Black teen in Kansas City

MUGSHOT: Andrew Lester

12:40 , Rachel Sharp

Andrew Lester, 84, was charged on Monday with two felonies over the shooting of Ralph Yarl.

Here he is in his mugshot.

New York homeowner shoots dead woman who went to wrong house – two days after Ralph Yarl shooting

12:20 , Rachel Sharp

A New York homeowner has shot and killed a woman who went to the wrong house with a group of friends – in eerily similar circumstances to the shooting of Black teenager Ralph Yarl.

Kaylin Gillis, 20, was travelling in a car with three friends when they made a wrong turn looking for a friend’s house in Hebron, upstate New York, on Saturday night.

The group accidentally drove into the driveway of homeowner Kevin Monahan, 65, who came out onto his porch and fired two shots, according to Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy.

Gillis was struck by one of the bullets.

Read the full story:

New York woman shot dead for pulling into wrong driveway, echoing Ralph Yarl case

Gun control nonprofit Brady speaks out about Ralph Yarl shooting

12:00 , Rachel Sharp

Brady: United Against Gun Violence, the American nonprofit organisation advocating for gun control and against gun violence, has released a statement about the shooting of Ralph Yarl and about a mass shooting at a Sweet 16 in Alabama that left at least three Black youths dead.

“The Second Amendment does not protect the right to shoot a child for ringing a doorbell, nor was it designed to turn a birthday party into a war zone. Black children have the right not to be shot,” Kris Brown, the president of Brady, said.

“It is important, as Alabama families prepare to bury their children and Ralph Yarl’s family hopes for his recovery, that this country not look away from how lax gun laws, Second Amendment extremism, and systemic racism hurt Black youths.

“Black Americans are twice as likely as white Americans to die by firearm. Gun violence is the number one killer of all American children and Black children in particular represent a disproportionate share of youth gunshot victims.”

Gwyneth Paltrow joins chorus of celebrities condemning shooting

11:40 , Rachel Sharp

Actor Gwyneth Paltrow has joined the growing chorus of celebrities condemning the shooting.

She wrote on Instagram: “#RalphYarl accidentally rang the doorbell of the wrong house in KCMO. He was trying to pick his younger siblings. The white owner of the hours shot this Black child in the head. He shot him again as Ralph bled out. The shooter is free. No charges. This is America.”

What we know about the shooting of Black teen who went to wrong house: ‘Ringing a doorbell is not a crime’

11:20 , Rachel Sharp

Ralph Yarl found himself lying in a hospital bed with gunshot wounds to the left forehead and right arm.

Harrowing photos showed the Black teenager with tubes coming out of him and his head and right arm wrapped up in bandages.

He is alive but his family says he has a long road to recovery ahead – a recovery that threatens to derail his dreams of going off to college to pursue a career in engineering.

So how did he end up here?

He went to pick up his younger brothers from a friend’s house, accidentally rang the doorbell at the wrong address and was shot twice by the 84-year-old white homeowner, Andrew Lester.

Here’s everything we know so far about the case:

Ralph Yarl: What we know about the shooting of Black teen in Kansas City

Who is Ralph Yarl?

11:00 , Rachel Sharp

Ralph Yarl, a Black 16-year-old, is a high school scholar who has dreams of going to attend Texas A&M to major in chemical Engineering.

A GoFundMe launched by his family describes him as a “fantastic kid”.

“At school, he is a member of the Technology Student Association and Science Olympia Team. Jazz and competition band. He is a section leader in the marching band; a scholar and one of the top base clarinet players in Missouri. He recently earned Missouri All-State Band recognition with an honorable mention. He plays multiple instruments in the metropolitan youth orchestra. He is a 2022 Missouri scholar academy alumni. Ralph can often be found with a musical instrument. He loves them all,” it reads.

“Last summer, Ralph attended Missouri Scholar’s Academy, where he got a full college life experience. His goal is to attend Texas A&M to major in chemical Engineering.

“When asked how he plans to get into this university, he said, “Well, if they have a scholarship for music or academics, I know I can get it.” Ralph’s teacher and friends describe him as “ a kind soul,” “quiet,” “friendly,” “well-mannered,” “always willing to help,” “super smart,” and a “musical genius.” Ralph was looking forward to graduating high school and finally getting the opportunity to visit West Africa before starting college. Life looks a lot different right now.”

How is Ralph Yarl doing?

10:40 , Rachel Sharp

Ralph Yarl was released from the hospital on Sunday and is continuing his recovery from his home, the family’s attorneys confirmed on Monday.

The 16-year-old spent four days in hospital after he was shot in the head and arm by a white homeowner on Thursday.

Photos previously showed the teen lying on a hospital bed in a children’s facility, his head heavily bandaged.

Good samaritan who saved Ralph Yarl reveals moments after shooting: ‘I thought he was dead’

10:20 , Rachel Sharp

James Lynch, 42, who lives on Northeast 115 Street in Clay County, Kansas City, told NBC News that he was alerted by loud screams at around 10pm last Thursday night – something unusual for the quiet suburban neighbourhood.

“I thought he was dead,” Mr Lynch said about the moment when he first saw Ralph, a Black 16-year-old boy.

“No one deserves to lay there like that,” Mr Lynch said. “He hasn’t even begun to live his life yet. He didn’t deserve to get shot.”

Mr Lynch had just gotten out of the shower when he heard somebody screaming “Help, help, I’ve been shot!” and first saw him banging the door of a nearby home.

Read the full story:

Good samaritan who saved Ralph Yarl reveals moments after shooting

Halle Berry speaks out about Ralph Yarl shooting

10:00 , Graeme Massie

Actor Halle Berry has spoken out about the shooting of Ralph Yarl, urging her Twitter followers to contact the local prosecutor to bring charges against the homeowner who shot the teenager.

“His name is #RalphYarl and I’m sick and tired of this feeling…my heart completely broke when I learned this precious 16-year-old, who accidentally rang the door of the wrong address in an attempt to pick up his siblings, was shot in the head by a man who didn’t want him on his property. This innocent child is now fighting for his life,” she wrote.

“This could be your child. This should NOT happen. Please do something today! Join me and please contact Prosecutor Zachary Thompson and demand an immediate arrest and bring the appropriate charges: Building: James S. Rooney Justice Center Address: 11 South Water Street, Liberty, Missouri 64068 Phone: 816-736-8300 Fax: 816-736- 8301 Email: prosecutor@claycopa.com”

GoFundMe for Ralph Yarl tops $2.6m

09:40 , Rachel Sharp

A GoFundMe campaign launched to support a Black teenager who was shot in the head by a white homeowner when he accidentally went to the wrong address has soared past $2.6m in donations.

Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old high school junior, was shot twice last Thursday when he went to pick up his younger twin brothers from a friend’s house on 13 April.

Kansas City Police said that Ralph had gone to collect his siblings from a friend’s house on 115th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, but got muddled up with the address and accidentally went to a home on 115th Street by mistake.

There, Ralph allegedly rang the doorbell and the homeowner – an unidentified white man – opened fire on him, shooting him twice.

He was taken to hospital in critical condition and has since returned home.

Donations have been flooding in on a GoFundMe campaign, set up to help pay for the boy’s recovery.

As of around 4am ET on Tuesday – just over one day after its launch – a staggering $2.6m had been raised.

On the campaign page, a woman who identified herself as Ralph’s aunt described the teenager as a “fantastic kid” who had dreams of doing to Texas A&M University to major in chemical Engineering.

New York homeowner shoots dead woman who went to wrong house with friends

09:20 , Rachel Sharp

In an eerily similar set of events, a New York homeowner shot a woman dead after she went to the wrong house with a group of friends.

Kaylin Gillis, 20, was travelling in a car with three friends when they made a wrong turn looking for a friend’s house in Hebron, upstate New York.

When they pulled into the driveway, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said that the homeowner Kevin Monahan came onto his patio and opened fire on the vehicle.

Gillis was struck by one of the bullets and died.

Mr Monahan, 65, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

Prosecutor says there was ‘racial component’ to shooting

09:03 , Graeme Massie

“As the prosecutor for Clay County, I can tell you that there was a racial component to the case…I don’t want to comment on specifics of the case to protect its integrity,” said Clay County prosecutor Zachary Thompson.

Good samaritan who saved Ralph Yarl reveals moments after shooting: ‘I thought he was dead’

08:41 , Namita Singh

Ralph Yarl was shot twice after he rang the wrong doorbell and was calling for help while lying motionless in a pool of blood, according to a good samaritan who came to the boy’s aid.

James Lynch, 42, who lives on Northeast 115 Street in Clay County, Kansas City, told NBC News that he was alerted by loud screams at around 10pm last Thursday night – something unusual for the quiet suburban neighbourhood.

“I thought he was dead,” Mr Lynch said about the moment when he first saw Ralph, a Black 16-year-old boy.

“No one deserves to lay there like that,” Mr Lynch said. “He hasn’t even begun to live his life yet. He didn’t deserve to get shot.”

My colleague Shweta Sharma reports:

Good samaritan who saved Ralph Yarl reveals moments after shooting

Ralph Yarl released from hospital three days after being shot by Kansas City homeowner

08:30 , Namita Singh

Missouri teenager Ralph Yarl has been released from hospital just days after he was critically injured when he was shot by a Kansas City homeowner, according to reports.

Ralph, 16, was released on Sunday and is recovering at home after being shot twice in the head and chest when he accidentally went to the wrong house to try to pick up his brothers on Thursday, his father Paul Yarl told The Kansas City Star.

The high school junior was responsive and “making good progress”, Mr Yarl added.

More in this report:

Ralph Yarl is released from hospital three days after being shot by homeowner

Ben Crump describes shooting as attempted murder

07:55 , Graeme Massie

Attorney Ben Crump has described the shooting as attempted murder and condemned the lack of charges against the shooter.

The civil rights attorney spoke out about the case on CNN, sharing a clip to the interview on Twitter.

“#RalphYarl was simply trying to pick his brothers up when he rang the doorbell of the wrong house and was shot in the head and the chest! Yet, his attempted murderer has NOT been arrested nor charged! If the roles were reversed, would that still be the case?! #TwoAmericas,” he tweeted.

GoFundMe for Black teen Ralph Yarl tops $1m after he is shot in the head by white homeowner

07:30 , Namita Singh

A GoFundMe campaign launched to support a Black teenager who was shot in the head by a white homeowner when he accidentally went to the wrong address has soared past $1m in donations.

Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old high school junior, was shot twice last Thursday when he went to pick up his younger twin brothers from a friend’s house on 13 April.

Kansas City Police said that Ralph had gone to collect his siblings from a friend’s house on 115th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, but got muddled up with the address and accidentally went to a home on 115th Street by mistake.

Rachel Sharp reports:

GoFundMe for Black teen Ralph Yarl tops $1m after he is shot by white homeowner

Biden speaks to Black teenager shot after mistakenly knocking on wrong door

07:15 , Namita Singh

President Joe Biden has spoken with Ralph Yarl, the Black teenager who was shot in Kansas City, Missouri, allegedly by a white homeowner after he mistakenly rang the wrong doorbell.

Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old high school junior, had gone to collect his siblings from their friend’s house on 115th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, on the evening of 13 April, according to Kansas City Police.

Police said that the teenager got muddled up with the address and accidentally went to a home on 115th Street by mistake.

More in this report:

Biden speaks to Black teen shot after mistakenly knocking on wrong door

Full story: Ralph Yarl out of hospital

07:04 , Graeme Massie

Here’s our full story on Ralph Yarl’s release from hospital, courtesy of my colleague Bevan Hurley.

Ralph Yarl is released from hospital four days after being shot by homeowner

‘Ringing a doorbell is not a crime’: What we know about the shooting of Black teen Ralph Yarl

06:30 , Namita Singh

A Black teenager went to pick up his younger brothers from a friend’s house, accidentally rang the doorbell at the wrong address and was shot twice by a white homeowner. Now, protesters, celebrities and civil rights figures are demanding justice.

Rachel Sharp reports:

What we know about the shooting of Black teen Ralph Yarl by a white homeowner

PICTURED: Ralph Yarl lies in hospital bed after shooting

06:00 , Namita Singh

A harrowing photo shows Ralph Yarl lying in his hospital bed after he was shot twice by a white homeowner.

What we know about white homeowner charged with shooting Ralph Yarl

05:30 , Namita Singh

Black teenager Ralph Yarl was shot by a white homeowner after he accidentally rang the doorbell at the wrong address while going to collect his brothers.

The 16-year-old’s interaction with the suspect in the Northland suburb of Kansas City quickly turned violent and the high school student was left hospitalised with serious injuries.

Instead of going to a home in the 1100 block of Northeast 115th Street he instead went to Northeast 115th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, police said.

Now prosecutors have brought charges against the homeowner, Andrew D Lester.

Here is everything we know about the suspect:

What we know about white homeowner charged with shooting Ralph Yarl

Halle Berry and Viola Davis voice outrage over shooting of Black teen Ralph Yarl

05:04 , Graeme Massie

Hollywood actors Halle Berry and Viola Davis have spoken out to demand justice for a Black teenager who was shot in the head by a white homeowner in Kansas City.

Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old high school junior, was shot twice last Thursday when he accidentally went to the wrong house to pick up his younger twin brothers.

The teenager is currently in critical condition in hospital while the white homeowner – who has not been named – is walking free after being released from police custody.

Protesters are demanding justice for the Black 16-year-old and a growing chorus of celebrities are weighing in on the case, voicing outrage over the shooting and the lack of charges so far brought against the man responsible.

Read the full story here:

Halle Berry and Viola Davis voice outrage over shooting of Black teen Ralph Yarl

Prosecutor says Ralph Yarl shooting had ‘racial component’ as suspect’s alleged threat revealed

04:46 , Namita Singh

Authorities in Kansas City, Missouri have confirmed that there was a “racial component” to the shooting of Black teenager Ralph Yarl.

The 16-year-old’s family have said he was simply trying to pick up his younger twin brothers when he rang the wrong doorbell by mistake and was shot by the white homeowner last Thursday night.

On Monday, prosecutors charged 84-year-old Andrew Lester with first degree assault, carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison, and armed criminal action, which is punishable by between three and 15 years.

More in this report:

Ralph Yarl shooting had ‘racial component’ as suspect’s alleged threat revealed

Police releases mugshot of 84-year-old suspect

04:18 , Namita Singh

Police in Kansas City have released a mugshot of the 84-year-old white man who was charged Monday with first-degree assault for shooting a Black teen who mistakenly went to the man’s home to pick up his younger brothers.

Andrew Lester was charged with first-degree assault, which could bring a sentence of life in prison, and armed criminal action for shooting Ralph Yarl, 16, on the doorstep of his suburban home around 10pm last Thursday, the prosecutor said.

“I can tell you there was a racial component to the case,” Clay County prosecutor Zachary Thompson told a news conference, without providing further details.

What do Missouri’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws allow?

04:02 , Graeme Massie

Investigators originally said they were considering whether the suspect who shot Ralph Yarl could be protected by "Stand Your Ground" laws. So what do Missouri's laws actually say?

Stand Your Ground is a legal doctrine that allows people to use deadly force to defend themselves from apparent threats, without having any legal duty to try retreating first.

By contrast, some US states and English common law – from which much US law derives – do not permit the use of deadly force in self-defence if a jury finds that you could have safely retreated from the situation.

In 2016, Missouri Republicans expanded its Stand Your Ground rules to cover not just a defendant's home or car but any place where they have a legal right to be.

Since then, research has found that states that implemented such laws saw their homicide rates increase by between 16 and 34 per cent.

Nevertheless, defendants charged with a crime do have to prove that they acted in self-defence. That means they must convince a jury that they reasonably believed that the force they used was necessary to prevent violence against them.

"You can’t just shoot people who come to your door," Missouri criminal defence lawyer Kevin Jamison told The Kansas City Star.

An attempt by some Missouri Republicans to replace the "reasonable person" test with a default presumption of reasonableness, shifting the burden of proof from defendants to prosecutors, was shot down in 2022 after opposition from law enforcement officials.

Andrew Lester: What we know about white homeowner charged with shooting Ralph Yarl

03:04 , Graeme Massie

Suspect is 85 years old and prosecutors say they believe there was a ‘racial’ element to the shooting.

What we know about white homeowner charged with shooting Ralph Yarl

'Missouri Republicans have established a culture of fear'

02:01 , Graeme Massie

Missouri legislators have accused the state's ruling Republicans of creating a "culture of fear" through lax gun regulations.

Crystal Quade, leader of the Democratic minority in the Missouri House of Representatives, said in a statement on Monday that Ralph Yarl was merely one more victim of "dangerous gun laws that get Missourians killed every day".

Ms Quade said: “Missouri Republicans’ extreme gun laws have established a culture of fear. Fear that turns neighbours against each other and causes people to see every situation as us versus them or black versus white.

"This division makes Missourians less safe and less free, and too often, Black lives suffer the most from this fear-driven, shoot-first culture."

St Louis representative Marlene Terry, a Democrat who chairs the state legislature's Black caucus, said the state's "Stand Your Ground" laws "breed a society of violence and fear while providing cover for those who harm, maim and kill others".

The GOP controls Missouri's governorship and both houses of its legislature, as well as the office of attorney general and secretary of state.

Mugshot of suspect released by authorities

01:10 , Graeme Massie

Prosecutors confirm ‘racial element’ in shooting of Ralph Yarl as suspect’s last words before firing revealed

Monday 17 April 2023 23:56 , Graeme Massie

The 16-year-old’s family have said he was simply trying to pick up his younger twin brothers when he rang the wrong doorbell by mistake and was shot by the white homeowner.

Prosecutors confirm ‘racial element’ in shooting of Ralph Yarl

Warrant issued for Andrew Lester’s arrest

Monday 17 April 2023 23:24 , Graeme Massie

Prosecutors say that a bond has been set of $200,000 but that the suspect is not yet in custody.

Clay County prosecutor Zachary Thompson said that the 85-year-old suspect shot a .32 pistol through a glass door at the victim.

Prosecutor says that Andrew Lester faces up to life in prison

Monday 17 April 2023 23:22 , Graeme Massie

Prosecutors have charged Andrew Lester with assault in the first degree, which carries a punishment of 10 to 30 years to life imprisonment.

He has also been charged with armed criminal action, which carries a punishment of 3 to 15 years.

BREAKING: Charges filed against Andrew D Lester

Monday 17 April 2023 23:14 , Io Dodds

Prosecutors have filed charges against an 85-year-old white man named Andrew D Lester for the shooting of Ralph Yarl.

Clay County prosecutor Zachary Thompson confirmed in a press conference just now that "there was a racial component to the case".

That statement confirms the man identified as the likely suspect byThe Independent earlier today.

More as soon as we have it.

Prosecutors to give press conference at 5pm Missouri time

Monday 17 April 2023 22:38 , Io Dodds

Here's the full statement from KCPD on the case file they have sent to prosecutors, courtecy of local Fox reporter Harold R Kuntz.

"The investigatave case file involving the April 13 shooting on NE 115th St has been submitted to the Clay County Prosecutor's office for their review for charges," KCPD said.

"Any further inquiry on the case should be directed to their office."

Not long after this announcement, the prosecutor’s office said he would hold a press conference at 5pm local time (in about 20 minutes).

Police submit a case file to prosecutors

Monday 17 April 2023 22:30 , Io Dodds

The KCPD has submitted a case file to Clay County prosecutors for consideration of charges, local broadcaster KMBC reports.

We don't have much more information than that right now, but we'll keep you posted.

'The system is working', says county prosecutor

Monday 17 April 2023 21:32 , Io Dodds

In a statement earlier today, county prosecutor Zachary Thompson said that he had not yet received a criminal referral from the KCDP.

Nevertheless, he assured the public that "the system is working" and asked them to "trust the system to achieve a just result".

He said his office is working as quickly as possible to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

Here's the full statement:

"Our office has received a substantial amount of public feedback regarding the juvenile who was shot on the evening of Thursday, April 13. We want to assure the public that our office understands the public interest in this case and is working as expeditiously as possible to address the matter.

"At this point, we have not yet received a criminal referral from the Kansas City Police Department regarding this case. However, we are actively working with law enforcement in an attempt to speed up that process so that we can review the file when it is submitted and determine whether criminal charges are appropriate. As always, it is our mission to ensure that justice is fully pursued and that the rights of all people in Clay Country are protected and upheld by law.

"We understand how frustrating this has been, but we can assure the public that the system is working. As with any serious case submitted to our office, we will approach this case in an objective and impartial manner. We ask the public to trust the system to achieve a just result.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has been impacted by these terribly events. It is our desire and intention to keep the public informed of any developments and be as transparent as legally permitted throughout this process."

Ralph Yarl is home from hospital

Monday 17 April 2023 19:36 , Io Dodds

Good news: Ralph Yarl has been released from hospital and is back home with his family, according to local media.

The teenager’s father Paul Yarl told The Kansas City Star that he is “responsive and making good progress” since being discharged on Sunday.

Ralph is now being cared for by a nurse and his mother, who is taking time off work in order to look after him, Mr Yarl said.

Suspect was released after just two hours, says report

Monday 17 April 2023 19:28 , Io Dodds

The man suspected of shooting Ralph Yarl was released from jail just two hours after being arrested, according to CNN.

KCPD jail officials told the outlet that the man had been taken into custody just before midnight on 13 April and was released at 1:24am on 14 April.

Officials also told The Independent that the man had been arrested under investigation for assault.

Alleged shooter is a white man in his eighties, records suggest

Monday 17 April 2023 19:04 , Io Dodds

The person who allegedly shot Ralph Yarl is a white man in his late eighties, public records, arrest logs, and media reports suggest.

According to property reports seen by The Independent, a man born in 1938 or 1939 lives at the address where Mr Yarl is believed to have been shot, and has had a hunting licence in Missouri since at least 2004.

Representatives at the Kansas City Police Department jail confirmed to my colleague Rachel Sharp just now that a man with that name was arrested on 13 April under investigation for assault and was released early the next day.

Jail officials also told CNN that the arrested person was a white man in his eighties, matching those descriptions.

For now The Independent is not naming the man because this could still be a case of mistaken identity, and he has not yet been charged with any crime.

Read my colleague Bevan Hurley’s full story here.

Viola Davis calls for action over shooting

Monday 17 April 2023 18:30 , Rachel Sharp

Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis took to Instagram to demand action for Ralph Yarl.

“ALL HANDS ON DECK!!” she wrote, directing people to the posts of civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Lee Merritt.

Kansas City officials seek to reassure community justice will be served

Monday 17 April 2023 16:30 , Rachel Sharp

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves has sought to reassure the community that justice will be served.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, she said: “We recognise the frustration this can cause in the entire criminal justice process.

“The women and men of the Kansas City Police Department are working as expeditiously and as thoroughly as we can, to ensure the criminal justice process continues to advance as quickly as all involved and our community deserve.”

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas added that there will be a thorough investigation into what happened.

“As a parent, I certainly feel for the mother of the victim and others in the family. My heart goes out to them,” he said.

Ben Crump and Lee Merritt now representing Ralph Yarl

Monday 17 April 2023 15:50 , Rachel Sharp

Prominent civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Lee Merritt are now representing Ralph Yarl and his family.

In a joint statement, the attorneys said: “There can be no excuse for the release of this armed and dangerous suspect after admitting to shooting an unarmed, non-threatening and defenseless teenager that rang his doorbell.

“We demand swift action from Clay County prosecutors and law enforcement to identify, arrest and prosecute to the full extent of the law the man responsible for this horrendous and unjustifiable shooting.”

The two attorneys have previously represented the families of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd.

Protests unfold in streets of Kansas City over Ralph Yarl shooting

Monday 17 April 2023 15:30 , Rachel Sharp

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Kansas City on Sunday to march through the Northland area where the teenager was shot twice by a white homeowner.

Many carried placards reading “Black Lives Matter”, “Ringing a doorbell is not a crime” and “Justice for Ralph” as they called for the shooter to be arrested and charged with a hate crime.

A pregnant family friend of Ralph Yarl’s parents told The Kansas City Star that she fears for her unborn child.

“How do you protect a Black kid?” said Patience Gaye.

“What are we supposed to do now? We left our countries because we don’t want to be killed. That’s why we left. They came to America for a better life. How is this a better life?”

GoFundMe for Ralph Yarl tops $900k

Monday 17 April 2023 15:10 , Rachel Sharp

A GoFundMe launched to help pay for the boy’s medical bills has already topped $900,000.

The page was launched by a woman who identified herself as Ralph’s aunt.

WATCH: Police give update on shooting of teen

Monday 17 April 2023 14:40 , Rachel Sharp

Police say no evidence shooting was racially motivated

Monday 17 April 2023 14:35 , Rachel Sharp

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said at a press conference on Sunday that there was no evidence to date to indicate that the shooting was racially motivated.

“The information that we have now, it does not say that that is racially motivated. That’s still an active investigation. But as a chief of police, I do recognise the racial components of this case,” she said.

But, the local community may not be convinced.

The shooting – which marks the latest in a growing number of shootings of Black people in America – has been branded a hate crime by the victim’s family and has sparked protests in the city.

Shooter is released without charge

Monday 17 April 2023 14:30 , Rachel Sharp

The white homeowner who shot Ralph Yarl on Thursday has been released without charge.

The shooter, who has not been named by authorities, was initially taken into custody on Thursday and placed on a 24-hour hold.

However, under Missouri state law, a person can only be held for 24 hours on suspicion of a felony before officials must either charge or release them.

The suspect was released pending further investigation.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said at a press conference on Sunday that – due to Ralph’s injuries – police had been unable to get a formal statement from the victim.

What happened to Ralph Yarl?

Monday 17 April 2023 14:25 , Rachel Sharp

Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old high school junior, had gone to collect his siblings from their friend’s house on 115th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, on the evening of 13 April, according to Kansas City Police.

Police said that the teenager got muddled up with the address and accidentally went to a home on 115th Street by mistake.

Ralph allegedly rang the doorbell and the homeowner – an unidentified white man – opened fire on him.

Ben Crump and Lee Merritt, the prominent civil rights attorneys now representing the victim and his family, said that the aspiring Texas A&M University student was shot twice – once in the head and once in the arm.

Following the shooting, Ralph managed to stumble to some other homes to get help, according to his family.

“Unfortunately, he had to run to 3 different homes before someone finally agreed to help him after he was told to lie on the ground with his hands up,” the family said in a GoFundMe page.

Officers responded to reports of a shooting and arrived to find the teenager outside with gunshot wounds.

He was rushed to hospital where he was in a stable condition as of Sunday night, police said.

FULL STORY: White homeowner walks free after shooting Black teenager in the head for ‘ringing wrong doorbell’

Monday 17 April 2023 14:18 , Rachel Sharp

A white homeowner has walked free from police custody after shooting a Black teenager in the head when the boy went to the wrong house to pick up his younger twin brothers.

Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old high school junior, had gone to collect his siblings from their friend’s house on 115th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, on the evening of 13 April, according to Kansas City Police.

Police said that the teenager got muddled up with the address and accidentally went to a home on 115th Street by mistake.

Ralph allegedly rang the doorbell and the homeowner – an unidentified white man – opened fire on him.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Homeowner shoots Black teenager in the head for ‘ringing wrong doorbell’

Welcome to The Independent’s liveblog on the shooting of Ralph Yarl

Monday 17 April 2023 14:16 , Rachel Sharp

Follow along for all the latest updates

GoFundMe for Ralph Yarl tops $1m

Monday 17 April 2023 17:29 , Graeme Massie

A GoFundMe launched to support Black teenager Ralph Yarl has soared past $1m.

Donations have been flooding in on a GoFundMe campaign, set up to help pay for the boy’s recovery.

As of around midday ET on Monday – less than 24 hours after its launch – a staggering $1.2m had been raised.

On the campaign page, a woman who identified herself as Ralph’s aunt described the teenager as a “fantastic kid” who had dreams of doing to Texas A&M University to major in chemical Engineering.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

GoFundMe for Black teen Ralph Yarl tops $1m after he is shot by white homeowner