Andrew Lester, the 86-year-old man who shot 16-year-old Ralph Yarl in the head after the teen mistakenly rang his doorbell in Kansas City, has agreed to a plea deal, avoiding a trial that was set to begin on February 18, 2025.
Lester pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, according to reports, and will now face a sentence ranging from one to seven years in prison.
Initially charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, Lester’s decision to accept the deal comes just days before his scheduled trial.
The incident occurred in April 2023 when Yarl, a high school junior, went to pick up his younger siblings.
After mistakenly ringing the doorbell of Lester’s home, the elderly man allegedly shot Yarl through a storm door, hitting him in the head.
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Yarl was shot a second time while lying on the ground, and despite his severe injuries, he was able to seek help from a nearby neighbor.
Yarl, a talented clarinetist and National Merit Commended Award recipient, suffered a brain injury from the shooting. His recovery has been described as nothing short of “inspiring.”
Following the hearing, Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson commented that the plea deal “ensures accountability for the defendant, provides closure to Mr. Yarl, and satisfies the need to achieve a just result in the case.”
Lester’s defense attorney, Steve Salmon, had previously argued that his client acted in self-defense and that Lester’s heart and memory issues played a role in the incident.
However, a judge ruled in November 2024 that Lester was fit to stand trial after a mental exam.
Yarl’s mother, Cleo Nagbe, issued a statement through ABC News, acknowledging that while the plea deal marked “a step toward accountability,” she emphasized that true justice requires consequences that match the severity of Lester’s actions.
