Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old high school junior, was shot twice in the head on April 13, 2023 with a GoFundMe set up for him
He is in serious condition, and police in Kansas City are looking into what happened.
Ralph had gone to the wrong spot when he was picking up his younger twin brothers from a friend’s house. He rang the doorbell, and the person who lived there shot him twice through the door. The white homeowner was taken into custody at first, but later let go without being charged.
Who is Ralph Yarl Kansas City shooting victim: Bio, age, family, parents and GoFundMe campaign
Ralph Yarl’s case has made people angry, and civil rights lawyers Ben Crump and Lee Merritt have agreed to defend him. They have criticised the government for letting the suspect go free and have asked that the house be charged. Many people have also said that the killing was an act of hate.
Name: Ralph Yarl
Age: 16
Race: Black
Location: Missouri
Year: 2023
Action: Rang wrong doorbell
Result: Shot by white man in homeName: Renisha McBride
Age: 19
Race: Black
Location: Michigan
Year: 2013
Action: Knocked on a door
Result: Shot and killed by white man in home pic.twitter.com/UBFfvOimLK— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 17, 2023
Ralph Yarl’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore, started a GoFundMe campaign after the tragedy to help pay for the teen’s hospital bills. Since then, more than $1 million has been donated by supporters.
NEW: The Clay County prosecutor has charged 84-year-old Andrew Lester in the shooting of Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old Black boy in Kansas City who went to the wrong address to pick up his siblings last week.
The prosecutor announced that Lester has been charged with first-degree… pic.twitter.com/M0bQdDaFiB
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) April 17, 2023
Ralph Yarl: Musical genius and science enthusiast shot by police
People have left words of support on the donations page, calling Ralph a “musical genius” and a “fantastic kid.” He was in the Technology Student Association and the Science Olympia Team. He also played clarinet in the jazz band and the marching band. Most recently, he got an honourable mention from the Missouri All-State Band. After he graduated from high school, he planned to go to Texas A&M University and study in chemical engineering.
Good morning y’all.
Ralph Yarl. A 16 year old Black baby boy was shot because he went to the wrong door (as he attempted to pick up his siblings). He was shot in the head and again as he bled out on the ground.
His shooter- a white man- is free.
So many things I can say but… pic.twitter.com/UvqNRfAffb
— Michele Rayner-Goolsby (she/they) (@micheleforfl) April 17, 2023
There have also been protests in Kansas City because of the shooting. Many people are asking for justice for Ralph Yarl and chanting “black lives matter.” The event has brought up problems with racism and police brutality in the U.S.
Even though something bad happened, Ralph’s family and friends still hope that he will get better. Ralph’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore, has thanked everyone in the community for their support and gifts. She hopes that the incident will bring attention to the problem and lead to change so that it won’t happen again.
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