More Than $3.4m Raised For 16-Year-Old Shot In Head For Ringing Wrong Doorbell

On Thursday, April 13th, Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old Black teenager from Kansas City, was tragically shot in the head when he went to pick up his younger brothers from a friend's house but mistakenly went to the wrong address.

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The intended destination was 115th Terrace, but Ralph, unfortunately, ended up at 115th Street instead, leading to the terrible incident.

On that fateful day, Ralph Yarl made the simple mistake of ringing the doorbell at the wrong address, not knowing that it would change his life forever.

The person who answered the door was 84-year-old Andrew Lester, a white homeowner who reacted by shooting Ralph twice - once in the head and once in the arm, even after he had already fallen to the ground.

This horrific incident has shaken the nation and highlights the ongoing issue of racial violence that plagues our society.

After being shot twice, Ralph Yarl was left in critical condition and in urgent need of medical attention.

Despite his injuries, he managed to make his way to nearby houses, calling out for help.

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Shockingly, it took him going to three different homes before someone finally agreed to call an ambulance.

Despite being shot twice in the head and arm, Ralph Yarl was able to make a miraculous recovery and was discharged from the hospital after just four days of treatment.

Upon his return home, his family was overjoyed to have him back, but the road to full recovery is expected to be long and challenging.

In an interview with Gayle King on April 18th, Ralph's mother, Cleo Nagbe, revealed that doctors were astonished at Ralph's survival and still struggled to comprehend how he survived such a deadly attack.

Following the shooting, Mr. Lester was initially detained by the Kansas City Police for questioning.

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However, he was released due to Missouri state laws requiring a formal victim statement before an arrest can be made.

This decision outraged many community members, leading to widespread protests throughout Kansas City, as people demanded that Lester be held accountable for his actions.

After facing significant public pressure and outrage, on April 17th, Andrew Lester was finally charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action.

Assault in the first degree carries a penalty of 10 years to life imprisonment, while armed criminal action carries a penalty of three to 15 years.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched by a woman who identified herself as Ralph's aunt to help cover the costs of his medical bills and ongoing recovery.

The fundraiser quickly gained momentum and has since been flooded with overwhelming donations from across the country.

Within just over 24 hours of the fundraiser's launch, it has already raised an astonishing $3.4 million in donations, which continues to grow by the hour.

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Ralph Yarl is described in the GoFundMe campaign description as a 'fantastic kid' who has a particular passion for music and dreams of studying Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University.

It reads: "Last summer, Ralph attended Missouri Scholar’s Academy, where he got a full college life experience.

"His goal is to attend Texas A&M to major in chemical Engineering. When asked how he plans to get into this university, he said, 'Well, if they have a scholarship for music or academics, I know I can get it.'

"Ralph's teacher and friends describe him as 'a kind soul,' 'quiet,' 'friendly,' 'well-mannered,' 'always willing to help,' 'super smart,' and a 'musical genius.'

"Ralph was looking forward to graduating high school and finally getting the opportunity to visit West Africa before starting college."

A recent update added: "Ralph is currently at home with the family. He can ambulate and communicate. A true miracle considering what he survived.

"Each day is different. He has a long road ahead. However, we are very thankful that he is still here with us.

"I've been taking the time to read the emails and comments to Ralph. It warms our hearts to see him smile at all the kind words."