The family of Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager who suffered a gunshot wound after mistakenly knocking on the wrong door, has taken legal action by filing a civil lawsuit in Missouri. The lawsuit is directed towards Andrew Lester, the individual accused of being the shooter.
The complaint, filed on behalf of Cleo Nagbe, Yarl’s mother, accuses Lester and the Highland Acres Lakeside Heights Homeowners Association in the Kansas City neighborhood of being responsible for the shooting incident. It asserts that their lack of care and negligence resulted in Yarl’s enduring permanent injuries.
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According to Lee Merritt, the Yarl family attorney, Ralph is quite unique because he possesses a heart devoid of hatred, anger, or bitterness. In an interview with ABC News, Merritt emphasized Ralph’s strong sense of justice and his desire for the pursuit of justice.
Lester’s attorney, Steven Salmon, declined to comment on the lawsuit, stating that he was not aware of the suit and had not seen a copy of the complaint. It is important to note that the civil suit is separate from Lester’s upcoming criminal trial, scheduled to commence on October 7.
An 85-year-old individual has been charged with a felony assault in the first degree and armed criminal action in connection with a shooting incident that took place on April 13, 2023. The accused, Lester, has pleaded not guilty and has been released on a $200,000 bond.
Ralph is gradually accepting the reality of what occurred, according to Cleo Nagbe, Yarl’s mother, who spoke exclusively with ABC News. In an interview set to be broadcast on Monday, she stated, “Initially, he tried to downplay it as a coping mechanism… but eventually, the impact of the trauma caught up with him. It’s as if the trauma had been waiting to catch up with him.”
Merritt emphasized that the civil suit does not claim that Lester shot Yarl due to racial bias. However, he firmly believes that a young Black boy should have the freedom to knock on the wrong door and move around his community without the constant fear of being criminalized or violently attacked.
According to the lawsuit, Lester is being accused of acting in a careless and negligent manner by not effectively communicating or providing an audible warning to Yarl before the shooting incident. Additionally, it is claimed that Lester failed to inquire about the purpose of Yarl’s presence and did not offer any assistance to the teenager after the incident occurred.
Yarl, who will be celebrating his 18th birthday next month, experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a result of the shooting, according to Nagbe. His journey towards recovery has been quite lengthy and is still ongoing.
She mentioned that her son has been facing difficulties with his school work ever since his injury occurred.
“I feel sorry for him,” she expressed. “However, he fails to recognize the change in his mental capacity. It’s not a matter of diminished intelligence; rather, the brain prioritizes healing and directs all its resources towards that goal.”
Highland Acres is being sued for allegedly failing to effectively communicate regulations and educate residents about the risks associated with discharging firearms on the premises. The lawsuit also claims that the association neglected to provide assistance to Ralph Yarl after he was shot.
The family is seeking financial compensation in excess of this Court’s jurisdictional limit through the civil suit. Additionally, they are also requesting reimbursement for the cost of legal fees, as stated in the complaint.
Lester, in his statement to the police, mentioned that he felt someone was trying to break into the house. Fueled by fear, he instinctively reached for his gun before approaching the door.
Lester, a white individual, alleged that he witnessed a “Black male approximately 6 feet tall” tugging at the door handle and “fired two shots within a matter of seconds after opening the door.” According to his account, the Black male fled the scene, prompting him to promptly dial 911.
Yarl, a high school senior, has aspirations of studying engineering in college, according to Nagbe. Alongside his academic pursuits, he has a deep passion for music and showcases his talent as a bass clarinetist. This dedication and skill have earned him a prestigious spot in the 2024 Missouri All-State Band.
According to Nagbe, her son does not want to be recognized solely for the shooting incident on April 13.
“He desires recognition for his achievements in music, his academic pursuits, his design work, and his construction projects. He wants to be acknowledged for his talents and contributions rather than being defined by what happened to him on April 13.”
