Nationwide — Andrew Lester, an 86-year-old man from Kansas, died days after pleading guilty to a lesser charge in the 2023 shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black honor student who mistakenly rang his doorbell. Lester admitted to second-degree assault and was set for sentencing on March 7th.
Lester initially faced charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action for shooting Yarl, who was 16 at the time. Authorities say Lester shot Yarl twice — once in the head and again in the arm — after the teen arrived at the wrong house to pick up his siblings on April 13, 2023.
Yarl survived and is now a freshman at Texas A&M.
Lester’s attorney informed the court and prosecutors of his death, but no cause was given, according to CNN. Prosecutors acknowledged Lester’s guilty plea and offered condolences to his family.
The case gained national attention, sparking debates on gun policies and race. Lester claimed self-defense, saying he was scared when Yarl knocked. The teen testified that he rang the bell and waited before Lester shot him, saying, “Don’t come here ever again.”
Yarl’s family filed a lawsuit, citing emotional distress. Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic, had serious health issues, including heart problems and a broken hip. His lawyer previously stated that media scrutiny and threats worsened his condition.
Source: BlackNews.com
