Who is Andrew Lester? What Happened to Him?
by Hemalatha R | Updated Apr 25, 2023
Who is Andrew Lester?
Andrew D. Lester is an 85-year-old retired aircraft mechanic and homeowner from Kansas City, Missouri. He made headlines in April 2022, when he shot and injured 16-year-old black teenager Ralph Yarl. The teenager mistakenly rang Lester's doorbell while trying to collect his siblings from a friend's house. Lester was taken into custody and placed on a 24-hour hold, and a mugshot of him was released by the police.
Details about Lester are scarce, but his home in northern Kansas City has been pictured with signs warning trespassers and unwelcomed visitors. Lester's doorbell had a small "no solicitors" sign on top, and another sign claimed that the property was "protected by surveillance cameras." Lester shot Ralph through the glass door of his home immediately after the teenager rang the doorbell.
The investigators found a firearm at the scene of the incident. Lester is facing serious felony charges, including assault in the first degree and armed criminal action. He is currently out on bail and has been ordered not to possess any weapons or have any contact with Ralph Yarl or his family.
Where is Andrew Lester Now?
Andrew Lester, the 84-year-old man accused of shooting Kansas City teenager Ralph Yarl, has been released on bail but faces restrictions under the conditions of his release. Lester is not allowed to possess any type of weapon or have any contact with Yarl or his family, according to FOX4. The release has sparked outrage in the community, as many feel that an 84-year-old man accused of such a heinous crime should not be allowed to walk free.
Lester has been charged with two felonies: assault in the first degree, which carries a punishment of 10 to 30 years or life imprisonment, and armed criminal action, which carries a punishment of 3 to 15 years. According to court documents, a witness saw a vehicle pull into Lester's driveway at around 9:30 pm on the night of the shooting.
Lester told investigators that he had just laid down when the doorbell rang. He picked up a .32 pistol and opened the interior door of his house. He claimed that he saw a Black male pulling on the exterior door and thought he was trying to break into the property. Lester said that he was "scared to death" and fired twice, with no words exchanged with the victim.
In an informal police interview at Children's Mercy Hospital, Yarl said that he did not pull the door and was waiting outside. He told investigators that a man opened the door and immediately shot him, causing him to fall to the ground where he was shot for a second time. Yarl said that the man told him, "Don't come around here."
After the shooting, Yarl managed to stumble away to some other homes in the neighborhood to get help and was rushed to the hospital. On Monday, he was released from the hospital to recover at home from his injuries. Under Missouri state law, a person can only be held for 24 hours on suspicion of a felony before officials must either charge or release them.
Lester was initially taken into custody and placed on a 24-hour hold, but he was released after less than two hours. The release of Andrew Lester on bail has reignited debates about gun control in the United States, with many calling for stricter laws and regulations to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, many are hoping that justice will be served and that the victim and his family will receive the support they need during this difficult time.
What happened to Andrew Lester?
Andrew Lester, an 84-year-old man accused of shooting a Kansas City teenager, Ralph Yarl, was released on bail after turning himself into the police. The suspect surrendered at a detention center just before 1:30 pm local time on Tuesday, more than 20 hours after charges were filed against him.
According to reports, Lester mistakenly shot Yarl in the head and hand after the teenager rang the doorbell at the wrong home while trying to collect his younger twin brothers. Prosecutors had already filed charges against Lester, and they had set a $200,000 bond for him.
After Lester surrendered, the Clay County Sheriff's Office issued a statement confirming that he was in custody and undergoing the booking process. The shooting of Ralph Yarl has sparked outrage in the community, and many have criticized the decision to release Lester on bail. Some have argued that an 84-year-old man accused of such a heinous crime should not be released on bail, especially given the severity of the charges.
The incident has also reignited debates about gun control in the United States, with many calling for stricter laws and regulations to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future. As the investigation into the shooting continues, many are hoping that justice will be served and that the victim and his family will receive the support they need during this difficult time.
The release of Andrew Lester on bail after turning himself in for shooting Kansas City teenager Ralph Yarl has caused outrage in the community. The incident has sparked debates about gun control and the need for stricter laws and regulations to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future. The investigation is ongoing, and many are hopeful that justice will be served for the victim and his family.
Andrew Lester Age
Andrew Leste, the man from Kansas City, Andrew Lester, who was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action after he shot a black teenager who mistakenly rang his doorbell at the wrong home is 84 years old. Lester surrendered to the police on Tuesday and was taken into custody.
However, he was released on bail after posting $200,000, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Ralph Yarl, the victim, who is only 16 years old, had gone to the wrong address to pick up his siblings at around 10 pm on Thursday, April 13th. He was shot through a glass door after he rang the doorbell. The police reported that Lester said he saw a black male he didn’t know pulling on the exterior storm door handle and thought his home was being broken into.
As a result, he went to the door armed with a .32-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver and fired twice through the glass door. Lester said that firing his weapon "was the last thing he wanted to do, but he was 'scared to death'" because of his age and the male’s size. He also claimed he lives alone and that he had gone to bed when the doorbell rang. Lester said he saw a car in the driveway of his home that he believed belonged to the male, but didn't see anyone inside it.
No words were exchanged between the two. Police noticed a security system in Lester's home and took the hard drive to preserve any evidence but later found the equipment had last captured video in June and was no longer functional.
Who is Andrew Lester - FAQs
Andrew D. Lester is an 84-year-old retired aircraft mechanic and homeowner from Kansas City, Missouri.
Andrew Lester was taken into custody after he shot a Black teenager named Ralph Yarl, who mistakenly rang the doorbell at Lester's home.
Andrew Lester has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, both of which are felonies.
Andrew Lester's bail was set at $200,000.
Andrew Lester claimed that he thought Ralph Yarl was trying to break into his home and was scared for his safety because of his age and the male's size. He fired twice through the glass door, hitting Yarl.