After a White Man Shot a Black Teen who Rang His Door Bell White Cops Failed to Arrest Him and a White Prosecutor Took 5 Days to Charge. Were Delays Caused by White Supremacy or Stand Your Ground Law?
/From [HERE] Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said Monday that the white man accused of shooting a 16-year-old boy last Thursday in Kansas City, Mo., now faces two felony charges. The suspect, identified as 85-year-old Andrew Lester, is charged with assault and armed criminal action.
Police said on Thursday, 16-year-old Ralph Yarl went to pick up his siblings from a house in the 1100 block of NE 115th Terrace. Instead, he ended up at NE 115th Street. After knocking at the door, he was shot. Thompson said according to the probable cause affidavit, Lester fired twice through a glass door, striking Yarl twice once in the head and again in the arm. He was able to get up and run for help. The weapon used was a .32 revolver.
Thompson said there was a racial component to the case. Lester is a white man, and Yarl is Black. The prosecutor, who is white, said the suspect still faces a Class A felony which is the highest felony in the state of Missouri.
“In the state of Missouri, hate crimes can be E or D felonies which carry with them a lower range of punishment than what the defendant is charged with,” said Thomspon.
The Clay County prosecutor said the assault charge carries a punishment of 10 to 30 years, up to life in prison. The criminal action charge carries a punishment of three to 15 years in prison.
When asked why Lester wasn’t arrested the night of the shooting, Thomspon said police were just following the law.
“In Missouri, charges have been to be charged within 24 hours of arrest or the defendant or suspect is released. “In this case, it was clear that additional investigation needed to be done so the case could be built on a solid foundation,” Thompson said.
At the time of the conference, Lester had not been arrested, His bond is set at $200,000.
Family members said Yarl was released from the hospital Monday afternoon and is home recovering. A unity walk
The Clay County Prosecutor is holding a media briefing regarding a 16-year-old boy who was shot last week while trying to pick up his siblings.
The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department said Ralph Yarl was trying to pick up his siblings from a house in the 1100 block of NE 115th Terrace. Instead, he ended up at NE 115th Street. After knocking at the door, he was shot.
Yarl was hospitalized with serious injuries from the shooting. Family members said he was released from the hospital Monday afternoon and is home recovering.
The man accused of shooting Yarl was taken into police custody but never arrested.