A tragic incident in North Kansas City has left the community shaken after an innocent mistake led to a hate crime. Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old Black teenager, was shot twice by an 84-year-old white man after accidentally ringing the doorbell of the wrong house while attempting to pick up his siblings.
Yarl was shot in the head through the glass door and, after falling to the ground, was shot again with a .32 Smith & Wesson revolver. The victim’s family asserts that the man intended to kill Yarl simply for ringing the doorbell of the wrong house.
The incident occurred last Thursday, but the shooter was not arrested and charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action until Monday, after protests in the streets and widespread media coverage. The case has reignited debates about the American justice system and its treatment of Black individuals.
Attorney Lee Merritt, who represents the family, notes that the shooting evokes memories of Trayvon Martin and Ahmaud Arbery. Civil rights activists and community members continue to call for accountability and systematic change in the wake of this tragedy.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.