A black teenager issued a destructive statement after an older white man who shot him before beating on the wrong door before his sentence died.
Andrew Lester died on Wednesday at the age of 86, only two days after he had argued for the shooting of Ralph Yarl, who wrongly knocked on Lester's door in April 2023 when he was only 16.
The retired aircraft mechanic would be convicted on March 7, 2025 and the authorities had asked her to serve five years for the shooting in Kansas City.
But after officers of Justice had announced the death of Lester, Yarl and his family released a statement that stated that his death does not bring them closure to the case.
Their statement said, “The news of the death of Andrew Lester brings a mix of emotions, but it does not bring justice.
'One of the reasons why we insisted on a fast process was to ensure that the public would see that our society does not approve with shooting an unarmed, innocent child, simply to ring the wrong doorbell, especially when that child The target was because of the color of his skin
'Andrew Lester never apologized for almost two years. Instead, he and his lawyer used any legal maneuver that is possible to postpone the accountability.
“Now another black child who is damaged by prejudices will never face the man who shot him the full weight of the legal system.”
Lester, here earlier this week in court, died on Wednesday at the age of 86 before being convicted
Yarl had beaten Lester's house when he was immediately shot in the head by Lester
The statement added: 'While Lester finally blamed, it came from holding on at the very last moment after two years. That delay makes our family falter.
'Some see the death of Lester as a form of consequence for his actions, but the reality remains that Ralph Yarl survived, but justice was never really served.
“He has a lifetime ahead to wear the trauma of that night, while the responsible man escaped the conviction.”
Lester's cause of death was not announced. In a statement, prosecutors said that the authorities expand our sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time. '
Yarl was shot in the head and the arm, and Clay County public prosecutor Zachary Thompson said that after Lester's arrest was 'a racial component for the case'.
He survived the shooting in a wonderful way despite the serious injuries and is now a first -year student at Texas A&M.
Faced with accusations of armed criminal action and first -degree attack, Lester's process would start in October, but a judge ordered an evaluation of mental health and this was postponed. On Friday he argued guilty of the lesser indictment of second -degree attack.
The case got the national interest because within a week after three other shootings it came to young black people who made harmless mistakes.
The teenager knocked on Lester's front door when he went to pick up his younger twin brothers, who were a block removed in another building.
Yarl walks to the Clay County Courthhouse to attend a hearing for Andrew Lester on Friday, February 14,
Prosecutors said there was a racial motive for shooting talented bass clarinet player Ralph Yarl, who played several instruments in the Northland Symphony Youth Orchestra
He pulled in the driveway of the house on 13 April 2023 around 10 p.m., called the doorbell and was immediately shot in the head.
After he fell to the ground, Lester then shot Yarl. The teenager told the police that Lester barked against him: “Don't come here.”
Yarl picked himself up and went to Lester's neighbors for help, but had to knock on three doors before a resident ordered him to lie on the floor with his hands above his head.
“He ran to three houses before one of the neighbors said:” Put your hands up and lay on the floor, “said Yarl's aunt Dr. Faith Spoonmore at the time.
“And then he lay on the floor, he fainted before the neighbor called the police for help,” she claimed.
'You hear these stories about racism in America and you think wow, how sad is that?
Andrew Lester, a white homeowner who pleaded guilty for shooting black teen Ralph Yarl days ago, died at the age of 86
'But then you have a little hope because you feel it is very far away and it would never happen to your family and you. But God, the people in this country are sick. '
Despite his brush with death, Yarl was released from the hospital after just four days, in some family lawyer Ben Crump said that there was a miracle.
Lester's doorbell had a 'no lawyers', while another claimed that the property 'was protected by surveillance cameras'. Questions were asked after his arrest why he was not accused of attempted murder.
Famous faces picked up the cause, with actresses Viola Davis, Jennifer Hudson and Halle Berry called for justice for Yarl. Hundreds of protesters also marched outside the house of the older shooter.
More than $ 1.7 million was collected for Yarl and his family when they were dealing with high medical accounts after the incident.
A talented teenager, Yarl had received a letter from Yale Undergraduate Admissions Board who identified him as a 'good candidate' for the prestigious university.
Ralph was part of the Technology Student Association and Science Olympia team of his high school, played in the marching, jazz and competition tape and was one of the top base clarinet players in Missouri.
He was described by his colleagues as a 'musical genius' and his praises include playing several instruments in the Northland Symphony Youth Orchestra.
He was also recognized as a Missouri Scholar Academy Alumnus in 2022.
