Key takeaways:
- Andrew Lester, an 84-year-old white homeowner, entered a not guilty plea in a Kansas City court for shooting a Black teenager who mistakenly came to his home.
- The trial is scheduled to begin on October 7, 2024 and Lester is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.
- The case has sparked national debates about gun policies and race in America, and the trial will be closely watched by the public to see if justice is served.
A not guilty plea was entered Wednesday in a Kansas City court by Andrew Lester, an 84-year-old white homeowner accused of shooting a Black teenager who mistakenly came to his home. The trial is scheduled to begin on October 7, 2024.
Ralph Yarl, the teen in question, was shot on April 13. Supporters of Yarl’s family attended the court hearing, wearing T-shirts reading “Ringing a doorbell is not a crime”, though they were asked to turn them inside out. Family friend Philip Barrolle said the court deemed the shirts a problem.
Lester is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. The case has sparked national debates about gun policies and race in America.
Yarl’s mother was in the courtroom for the plea hearing. She is hoping for justice for her son, and for the court to recognize that ringing a doorbell is not a crime. The trial will be closely watched by the public, to see if justice is served.
Be First to Comment