Photo: Kansas City Police
A judge has ordered an 84-year-old white man who shot Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager who accidentally went to his home in Kansas City, to stand trial and face charges.
On Thursday (August 31), Judge Louis Angles ordered Andrew Lester, who is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in Yarl's shooting, to trial, per NBC News.
The trial comes after Yarl mistakenly went to the wrong address to pick up his younger brothers on April 13. During a court appearance on Thursday, Yarl said he waited for an extended period of time after ringing the doorbell. Lester eventually opened his door and showed his gun, saying "Don't come here ever again," according to Yarl.
The teen testified that he took his hand off an exterior glass storm door before being shot in the head. Yarl said he fell to the ground and was shot again in the arm.
Lester's lawyer, Steven Salmon, maintained his innocence following Thursday's court appearance.
"Once again, I think there's a judgment call. You're talking about an 84-year-old man who startled from sleep, and he just went to the door," Salmon said. "I can't substitute my judgment for his. He's an 84-year-old man, and maybe his judgment is different than mine."
In court, Yarl's family members wore shirts that read: “Ringing a doorbell is not a crime.”
Lester is currently free on bail and his arraignment is set for September 20.
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