Plea Deal Reduces Charges in Controversial Case
An 86-year-old Kansas City man pleaded guilty Friday to a lesser charge in the 2023 shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black honor student who mistakenly rang his doorbell, in a case that sparked national outrage and reignited debates over gun laws and racial bias in the U.S.
Andrew Lester had been set to stand trial next week on charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action for shooting Yarl, then 16, who survived and is now a freshman at Texas A&M University, where he participates in ROTC and the school’s marching band.
Instead, Lester accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to second-degree assault, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. Judge David Chamberlain scheduled Lester’s sentencing for March 7.
Victim’s Family Calls for Justice
Lester, hunched over in a wheelchair with his hands folded, entered the courtroom as Yarl and his mother, Cleo Nagbe, sat in the front row. In a statement following the hearing, Nagbe expressed gratitude to those who had supported her family and condemned the circumstances that led to her son’s shooting.
“While this marks a step toward accountability, true justice requires consequences that reflect the severity of his actions — anything less would be a failure to recognize the harm he has caused,” she said. Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson announced that the state would seek a five-year prison sentence for Lester. “Self-defense has limits,” Thompson told reporters after the hearing.
Understanding the Plea Deal
Lester had originally faced up to 30 years in prison under the first-degree assault charge. The reduction to second-degree assault acknowledges “sudden passion arising from adequate cause,” a legal element that factors into sentencing.
“This is probably perceived as some middle ground,” said Kansas City defense attorney J.R. Hobbs, who is not involved in the case. “If he was afraid or whatever, it may not rise to a full defense. The parties might agree to that because on one hand, it’s a felony conviction — no trial, no possible appeal. On the other hand, with a lesser statutory limit, the defendant’s exposure is less as well.”
The Night of the Shooting
The shooting occurred on April 13, 2023, when Yarl mistakenly arrived at Lester’s house while trying to pick up his twin siblings. Lester’s attorney, Steve Salmon, has long argued that Lester acted in self-defense, claiming the elderly homeowner was terrified when a stranger knocked on his door as he was settling into bed. Prosecutors say Lester shot Yarl twice—once in the head and once in the arm—without provocation.
Yarl testified that after ringing the bell, he waited for what seemed like “longer than normal.” When the inner door finally opened, he reached for the storm door, believing he was at the right house. “I assume these are my brothers’ friends’ parents,” he recalled.
Instead, Lester shot him in the head and told him, “Don’t come here ever again.” Although the bullet did not penetrate Yarl’s brain, the impact knocked him to the ground. Lester then fired again, hitting Yarl in the arm. Yarl was hospitalized for three days before being released. His family later filed a lawsuit against Lester, citing the emotional and psychological toll the shooting had taken on the teenager.
Lester’s Health and Mental State
Salmon has previously stated that Lester’s health has significantly declined since the shooting, citing heart issues, a broken hip, hospitalization, and a dramatic weight loss of 50 pounds. He blamed the stress of media coverage and death threats for Lester’s deteriorating condition.
During Friday’s hearing, the judge asked Lester if he was in poor health. “Yes,” he responded.
A judge had previously ordered a mental evaluation of Lester, but the results were not publicly released. The evaluation concluded that Lester was competent to stand trial.
