Andrew Lester, an 86-year-old man from Kansas City, Missouri, has died shortly after pleading guilty to a lesser charge in the 2023 shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black honor student. Yarl mistakenly rang Lester's doorbell after going to the wrong address. This incident sparked widespread outrage and renewed conversations about racial bias and gun control.
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02-22, 2025Lester had previously been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. The victim, Yarl, who was 16 at the time, survived the shooting and is now a freshman at Texas A&M University. Lester's trial was set to begin soon, but he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault last Friday, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for March 7.
Clay County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Chellie Konga told them that Lester's attorney had notified them of Lester's death. "We have been informed of the passing of Andrew Lester and extend our sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time," the prosecutor's office said in a news release. "While the legal proceedings have concluded, we acknowledge that Mr. Lester took responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty in this case."
The news release did not mention the cause of death. Kansas City police said they are not conducting a death investigation into the matter. Clay County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Sarah Boyd said that because Lester was not in custody, she did not have information about Lester's cause of death, but she noted that Lester's health was "not good" at last week's guilty plea hearing.
Yarl's family said in a written statement on Wednesday that what happened is one of the reasons they pushed for a speedy trial. "Now, another Black child harmed by bias will never see the man who shot him fully sanctioned by the law. While Lester ultimately admitted guilt, it was at the last possible moment—after a two-year delay. This delay has been traumatizing for our family." The family hopes this case will serve as a reminder of the need for justice and accountability.
The case shocked the nation and reignited a national debate about gun policies and race in America. On the night of April 13, 2023, Yarl arrived at Lester's door after mixing up the street where he was supposed to pick up his twin siblings. Lester's attorney, Steve Salmon, argued that Lester acted in self-defense, claiming he was frightened by the stranger knocking on his door as he was preparing for bed. Authorities said Lester shot Yarl twice: once in the head and once in the arm.
Yarl testified at the hearing that he rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer, feeling it was "longer than usual." When the inner door opened, Yarl said he reached for the screen door, assuming he was at the home of his siblings' friend's parents. He said Lester shot him in the head and said, "Don't come around here ever again." Although the bullet did not penetrate Yarl's brain, the impact knocked him to the ground. Yarl said Lester then shot him in the arm.
The teenager was taken to the hospital and released three days later. His family said the shooting took a tremendous emotional toll, and they have filed a lawsuit against the retired aircraft mechanic. Salmon said last year that Lester's physical and mental health had deteriorated. He said Lester had heart problems, a fractured hip, and had been hospitalized. Lester also lost 23 kilograms, which Salmon attributed to the stress caused by extensive media coverage and subsequent death threats he received.
At Friday's hearing, Lester was wheeled into court in a wheelchair, hunched over, with his hands clasped together. When asked if he was not feeling well, Lester replied yes. The judge had previously ordered a mental evaluation for Lester but allowed the trial to proceed after the evaluation was completed. The results of the evaluation were not made public. Lester's grandson, Daniel Ludwig, did not immediately respond to a text message from The Associated Press seeking comment.
