Family Demands Justice After Black Teen Ralph Yarl Shot in the Head After Ringing Wrong Doorbell
The family of a 16-year-old boy who was shot twice by a white man early last week has labeled the act a hate crime after saying the teenager was just trying to pick up his brothers. from a friend’s house.
The boy, Ralph Yarl, “went to the wrong house” in the Kansas City neighborhood on Thursday, according to a report. GoFundMe was founded by his aunt to handle medical expenses.
Yarl drove into the house and rang the doorbell. “The man in the house opened the door, looked my grandson in the eye and shot him in the head,” his aunt, Faith Spoonmore, wrote. “My nephew fell to the ground, and the man shot him again.”
Still conscious, Yarl ran for help, but Spoonmore alleges he “had to run to three different houses” before help arrived, and then only after ordering the 16-year-old to lie down. on the ground and raise your hand. He’s been hospitalized, but “has a long way to go mentally and emotionally,” the fundraiser says.
The alleged gunman, who has not been identified, was taken into custody and taken to a police station to make a statement. In custody for 24 hours, he was released pending further investigation, which the Kansas City Police Department chief spent much of his brief Sunday press conference justifying.
Police Chief Stacey Graves said: “The vast majority of cases involving violent crimes involve the suspect being released pending further investigation. “In this case, prosecutors requested more information from investigators that would take more than 24 hours to compile over the course of the weekend.”
She explained that detectives were working to gather forensic evidence and get official testimony from Yarl. It is unclear if he will be eligible to make a statement on Sunday.
“We want the community to know that we are committed to doing justice in this case as well as in every case and work every day to seek that justice for all victims of every crime,” said Graves, at the same time, adding that she personally “listens” to and understands “the community’s” concerns.”
On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of protesters gathered to protest outside the alleged gunman’s home on 115th Street — a short drive from 115th Terrace, the friend’s house where Yarl’s brothers had performed. accommodation.
“Right there,” Spoonmore said at the gathering, gesture came home, “very obnoxious. Right here” – she pointed to the crowd – “is a lot of love.”
Civil rights attorneys Lee Merritt and Ben Crump said they provided professional services to the family, according to Kansas City Stars. “Ralph is fighting for his life,” Merritt tweeted Sunday morning. “This man must be arrested. We are on our way.”
On the fundraising page, Spoonmore called her grandson “a wonderful kid” who dreamed of attending Texas A&M in chemical engineering.
Last summer, she said, he attended the Missouri Scholars Academy, a program for high-achieving students. Yarl is also an accomplished bass clarinetist, who conducts part of his school’s marching band, and plays multiple instruments in the Northland Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Spoonmore writes: “Ralph is often found with an instrument. “He loves all of them.”
She also noted that Yarl was lucky to have survived, explaining: “He is our miracle. We’ve heard stories like this many times, and unfortunately, most black boys don’t live to get another chance.”
“This is not a ‘bug’. This is a hate crime,” she posted on Instagram immediately after the incident. “You can’t shoot a kid in the head just because he rings your doorbell.”
