A Kansas City teen is struggling to recover from two bullet wounds and the trauma of violence after he knocked on the wrong door.
Ralph Yarl, 16, was attempting to pick up his younger siblings from a residence located at the 1100 block of Northeast 115th Street in Metro Kansas City on a Thursday (April 13) evening. Unbeknownst to Yarl, he was at the wrong address. Upon answering the door, the homeowner shot Yarl striking the teen in the head and proceeded to shoot him again once Yarl fell to the ground.
Yarl struggled to find help in the middle-class neighborhood as he approached three different homes before someone called 911.
A protest was held Sunday (April 16) calling for justice once it was determined that the homeowner, who still remains anonymous in the midst of the shooting receiving nationwide attention, was not charged or held accountable for the shooting.
Kansas City Chief of Police Stacey Graves shared details of what transpired after the shooting at a news conference held on Sunday. The shooter was taken into custody and held for 24 hours before being released per the advisement of the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office, according to Graves.
Zachary Thompson, the county’s prosecuting attorney, is reevaluating the case after widespread outrage and theories of racism being a deciding factor behind the excessive violence against the teen and the lack of accountability imposed on the shooter.
“We understand how frustrating this has been, but we can assure the public that the system is working,” Thompson said. “As with any serious case submitted to our office, we will approach this case in an objective and impartial manner.”
Before this happened to Yarl, he was enjoying his teenage years as an above-average high school student taking college-level courses with the hopes of going to Texas A&M University. He was active in his school’s band with a specialty in bass clarinet, and used his gift to participate in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Kansas City and also earn an honorable mention for Missouri All-State Band, according to the North Kansas City School District.
The hospital released Yarl on Sunday and he is now recovering at home with his family. A GoFundMe page was created on Yarl’s behalf to assist with medical costs. The fund had raised more than $1 million over the weekend thanks to the support of 30,000-plus donors.
Kansas City residents, political figures, celebrities, and civil rights activists are demanding that the shooter be identified and charged. However, Graves is considering self-defense laws, such as Stand Your Ground, to determine whether the shooter will face charges.
