On Monday, prosecutors filed two felonies against an 84-year-old white man from Kansas City in connection with the shooting of a Black teenager who was injured after travelling to the incorrect house to pick up his younger twin brothers.
Ralph Yarl, 16, was shot by Andrew Lester last Thursday at about 10 p.m. He was charged with first-degree assault, which carries a potential life sentence in prison, and armed criminal activity, the prosecutor said.
Clay County prosecutor Zachary Thompson said at a news conference, "I can tell you there was a racial component to the case," without going into greater detail.
The prosecutor claimed that Lester used a. 32-calibre handgun to fire two shots through a glass door. Yarl, who had been hit in the head and an arm, did not go past the threshold, according to Thompson, who also noted that it didn't seem like anyone said anything throughout the encounter.
However, according to court documents, Yarl informed police during an interview at the hospital where he was treated that the man instructed him, "Don't come around here," according to local media.
On Monday, the teen's family reported that he was healing at home.
If convicted on the assault charge, he would not only be facing life in jail but also a sentence of up to 15 years for criminal activity, according to the prosecutor. He stated that less severe sanctions apply to hate crimes in Missouri, which were not reported.
Lester had a $200,000 bond set for his apprehension, but as of 5 p.m. CDT (2200 GMT), the prosecution stated he was still at large.
According to Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves, the homeowner was initially detained, put on a 24-hour investigative hold, and then released pending a conversation with Yarl and the gathering of forensic evidence.
Two days of protests were fueled in part by his release. Online recordings revealed that protesters gathered once more at the suspect's one-story home on a street lined with trees on Monday, yelling "Black lives are under attack" and "Stand up, fight back."
Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted in response to the incident, "No child should ever live in fear of being shot for ringing the wrong doorbell.
A senior administration official reported on Monday that Yarl and President Joe Biden spoke on the phone.
Ben Crump, the family's attorney, had urged on Monday that the homeowner be detained and charged with the attempted murder of a boy who was characterized by his school system as a "excellent student and talented musician."
A "stand-your-ground law" in Missouri permits house owners to use force to protect themselves from alleged invaders.
A person is not allowed to use lethal force, according to the law, unless they have a good faith belief that it is required to defend himself or another person from death, significant physical injury, or a potential felony.
