Assault trial for man accused in wrong-door shooting of Ralph Yarl moves forward

By Dennis Romero, NBC

Prosecution of an 86-year-old white man charged in the wrong-door injury shooting of a Black teenager in Kansas City, Missouri, last year will move forward, a judge indicated Tuesday.

A mental evaluation of Andrew Lester approved by Clay County Circuit Court Judge David P. Chamberlain in September has been completed and was entered into the record on Nov. 15 but otherwise withheld from the public.

So far, the report hasn’t paused the trial’s starting date of Feb. 18, scheduled during a hearing in early October, according to court records. A second week of trial, if needed, was scheduled for Feb. 24.

Cleo Nagbe, mother of Ralph Yarl, said the teen’s family is pleased the case remained on schedule.

“The family of Ralph Yarl is grateful that the trial against Andrew Lester is moving forward,” she said in a statement sent to NBC affiliate KSHB of Kansas City, Missouri. “This case represents more than just accountability — it’s a step toward justice for the trauma Ralph and our family have endured simply because he rang the doorbell at the wrong home.”

The original article has more information.

This case highlights a dangerous precedence known as adultification bias.

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