Andrew Lester, an 86-year-old Missouri man who recently pleaded guilty to second-degree assault after shooting unarmed Black teenager Ralph Yarl, has passed away. Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson confirmed Lester’s death on Wednesday, February 19. Lester had entered his guilty plea on Friday, February 14, and was awaiting sentencing, which was scheduled for March 7.
Prosecutors stated that Lester was not in custody at the time of his passing. Had he not pleaded guilty, his trial would have begun on Tuesday, February 18. The case stemmed from an incident on April 13, 2023, when Ralph Yarl, then 16, was shot twice in the head and right arm after mistakenly going to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers. Yarl had arrived at Northeast 115th Street instead of Northeast 115th Terrace and rang the doorbell. Lester, who was inside the home, opened the door and fired a handgun through the glass storm door.
Lester was initially charged and released on a $200,000 bond after pleading not guilty in 2023. The case gained widespread attention as Yarl, despite being critically injured, managed to seek help from multiple homes before someone finally assisted him. Reports indicated that Yarl was instructed to lie on the ground with his hands up after being shot.
Prosecutors argued that the case was about the reasonableness of Lester’s actions rather than self-defense. While homeowners have a right to protect themselves, authorities stated that shooting an unarmed teenager through a locked door exceeded reasonable force. Prosecutors had requested a five-year prison sentence for Lester.
Following Lester’s death, Yarl’s family issued a statement expressing mixed emotions but emphasizing that justice had not been served. They noted that one of the reasons they pushed for a speedy trial was to highlight that society should not condone the shooting of an unarmed child, particularly when race was a factor. They also pointed out that Lester never apologized and instead delayed accountability through legal maneuvers.
The family acknowledged that some may view Lester’s passing as a consequence of his actions, but they maintained that true justice was not achieved. They stated that Ralph would continue to carry the trauma of that night, while the man responsible would never face sentencing. They remain committed to advocating for a world where no child faces violence because of their race.
