Andrew D. Lester, 86, who shot teenager Ralph Yarl in April 2023 after Yarl mistakenly approached his home, died on Wednesday while awaiting sentencing for second-degree assault. Lester had pleaded guilty last week and was scheduled for sentencing on March 7, potentially facing up to seven years in prison. Yarl, who is Black, survives the shooting and is now attending Texas A&M University. His family expressed mixed emotions over Lester’s death, feeling that it does not bring justice. The incident sparked protests and raised significant concerns about racial dynamics in Kansas City.
Andrew D. Lester, the elderly man who shot and injured a teenager who mistakenly approached his home two years ago in Missouri, passed away on Wednesday while awaiting sentencing, according to the local prosecutor’s office.
Mr. Lester, 86, appeared in court last Friday in the Kansas City suburbs to plead guilty to second-degree assault in the April 2023 shooting of Ralph Yarl, a high school student who accidentally went to the wrong house while trying to retrieve his siblings from a nearby friend’s residence with a similar address.
Mr. Lester, whose cause of death has not been disclosed, was set to be sentenced on March 7. He was facing a maximum of seven years in prison, though the judge could have chosen to impose a fine or a significantly shorter prison term instead.
In a statement, Mr. Yarl’s family expressed that Mr. Lester’s death “evokes a range of emotions, but it does not equate to justice.” Mr. Yarl, who was 16 at the time of the incident, is now attending Texas A&M University and is part of the marching band.
Mr. Yarl’s family members expressed their belief that race was a factor in the shooting. Mr. Yarl is Black, while Mr. Lester was white.
“Some people may regard Lester’s death as a form of consequence for his actions, but the truth is that Ralph Yarl survived, and true justice was never achieved,” their statement read. “He faces a lifetime burden of trauma from that night, while the individual responsible has eluded sentencing.”
A representative from the Clay County prosecutor’s office noted that despite Mr. Lester pleading guilty to a felony, he would not be classified as a felon under Missouri law due to the absence of a final ruling in the case. The office will now seek a judge’s approval to dismiss the case, the representative stated.
“Though the legal process has concluded, we recognize that Mr. Lester accepted responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty,” the prosecutor’s office stated. “Our thoughts remain with both families impacted by this tragic event as they continue their journey of healing.”
The shooting sparked protests in Kansas City and garnered national attention, including an invitation from former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. for the teenager to visit the White House. It also raised significant concerns regarding race relations in Kansas City, a city with a long history of segregation. Numerous residents and local officials indicated their belief that race influenced the shooting, while the county prosecutor acknowledged early on that “there was a racial component to the case.”
Mr. Lester, a retired aircraft mechanic, appeared frail in court last week. Dressed in a white shirt and a dark sport coat, he sat in a wheelchair with a hunched back and frequently looked down. During the hearing, Mr. Lester spoke in a soft voice when the judge questioned him about his understanding of the proceedings and his decision to plead guilty.
His attorney, Steven Salmon, had previously raised concerns regarding Mr. Lester’s physical and mental well-being. Last year, Mr. Salmon mentioned that Mr. Lester had suffered a broken hip and was experiencing “noticeable memory issues concerning relevant details of the case.” However, despite the delay, the judge directed that the case proceed.
Mr. Salmon did not respond immediately to a request for comments on Wednesday.
Before pleading guilty to a lesser charge, Mr. Lester was slated to go on trial this week, having previously indicated he would assert self-defense.
The most comprehensive public examination of the case occurred during a preliminary hearing in 2023. During this hearing, Mr. Yarl recounted that he had driven into Mr. Lester’s driveway, mistakenly believing his siblings were inside, and rang the doorbell. When the interior wooden door finally opened, Mr. Yarl stated that he placed his hand on the glass storm door, only to withdraw when he saw an unfamiliar individual holding a gun.
“He raised it and said, ‘Don’t ever come here again,’” Mr. Yarl relayed in court.