A black youngster in Missouri was fatally shot by a homeowner after he went to the wrong residence to pick up his younger brothers.
Ralph Yarl, 16, a high school student in Kansas City, was bringing his twin younger brothers back from a neighboring location on Thursday, April 13.
Yarl’s family claimed that when he went to pick up his siblings, he did not have his phone with him. He was going to pick up his brothers from a house on Northeast 115th Terrace, but by mistake he ended up at a house on Northeast 115th Street.
Just before 10.00pm, Yarl pulled into the driveway and rang the doorbell at the wrong address. After opening the door, the homeowner shot the teenager twice, hitting his head and arm.
The teenager was rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, but is now expected to survive. ‘Despite the severity of his injuries and the seriousness of his condition, Ralph is alive and recovering,’ his family said in a statement.
The shooter, who has not yet been named, was taken into custody by police and detained for 24 hours. He was released the next day without any criminal charges filed against him.
The result lead to widespread public outcry over the weekend, which have included protests and demonstrations in the streets of Kansas City.
‘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!’ said civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is now representing Yarl and his family. ‘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.’
On Sunday, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Police Chief Stacey Graves said that the case was still under investigation, after which the shooter may still face criminal charges. Investigators are currently waiting for Yarl to recover in order to get a statement from the victim.
‘The homeowner was released pending further investigation due to the need to obtain a formal statement from the victim, forensic evidence, and compile additional information for a case file to be presented,’ Graves said. ‘A person can be held up to 24 hours for investigation of a felony, at which time they are to be charged or released.’
The police chief said that investigators were working throughout the weekend to compile the necessary information to present the case to the local prosecutor’s office for charges.
‘We recognize the frustration this can cause in the entire criminal justice process,’ Graves said. ‘We want the community to know we are committed to justice, in this case and every case, and work every day to seek that justice for all victims of all crimes.’
She continued: ‘I want everyone to know that I am listening, and I understand the concern that we are receiving from the community.’
Graves also said that the case currently does not appear to be racially motivated, but that might change after further investigation.
‘The information that we have now – it does not say it is racially motivated. That’s still an active investigation. But as a chief of police, I do recognize the racial components of this case,’ Graves said. ‘I do recognize and understand the community’s concern and the community’s response.’
Meanwhile, Yarl’s family has started a GoFundMe to help cover his medical expenses. The fundraiser has raised over $800,000 as of Monday morning.
According to his family, Yarl is a high school junior and plans to attend Texas A&M University. He attended Missouri Scholar’s Academy, which recognizes 330 of the state’s top academic students.
He is also a gifted musician, and one of the top ranked bass clarinet players by the Missouri All-State Band.