A black teenager was shot in the head twice after he mistakenly went to the wrong house in Kansas City, Missouri, to pick up his younger twin brothers.
Ralph Yarl, 16, was fired upon by a white homeowner on 115th Street on Thursday night in what is being labeled a hate crime by his family.
His family say he pulled into the driveway of the home at 10pm, believing it to be the correct on 115th Terrace – which is where he was meant to be picking up his brothers.
The teen – who is a school scholar and aspired to study chemical engineering at Texas A&M University – rang the doorbell, but was immediately shot at.
‘The man in the home opened the door, looked my nephew in the eye, and shot him in the head,’ his aunt, Faith Spoonmore, wrote. ‘My nephew fell to the ground, and the man shot him again.’
The teen fell to the ground but was still conscious and managed to make his escape and run to a next door neighbor for help.
Ralph Yarl, 16, was shot twice in the head by a white man after he went to the wrong house in Kansas City while trying to pick up younger siblings
Ralph was hospitalized and is still recovering from his injuries after being shot in the head
A talented bass clarinet player, Ralph also leads a section of his school’s marching band and plays multiple instruments in the Northland Symphony Youth Orchestra
But assistance wasn’t forthcoming and he had to knock on the doors of three different homes before someone finally came to his aid – and even then was told to lie on the ground with his hands up.
Ralph was immediately rushed to the hospital where he is now recovering from his injuries.
The teen is known among his peers for his intellect and for being a ‘musical genius.’
Ralph is part of his high school’s Technology Student Association and Science Olympia Team, plays in the marching, jazz, and competition band, and is one of the top base clarinet players in Missouri.
He had big dreams of attending college, after being recognized as a Missouri scholar academy alumni in 2022.
His family has set up a GoFundMe page to handle medical expenses and have stated that he has ‘a long road ahead of him mentally and emotionally.’
The alleged gunman, who has not been identified, was taken into custody soon after the incident and to give a statement but was later ‘released pending further investigation.’
Police obtained the firearm that was used in the incident but have explained their delay on bringing charges against the homeowner because they are waiting for the teen to make his own statement as to what happened.
Ralph had to knock on the doors of three different homes before someone finally came to his aid and even then he was told to lie on the ground with his hands up
Ralph’s family have labeled his shooting a hate crime
The release of the gunman did not sit well with civil rights attorney Lee Merritt who stated in tweet on Sunday morning, ‘Ralph is fighting for his life.
‘This man must be arrested. We are on our way.’
On Sunday afternoon, the Chief of the Kansas City Police Department, Stacey Graves, also justified the decision to release the alleged gunman.
‘The vast majority of cases to include violent crime involve the suspect being released pending further investigation,’ Chief Graves said. ‘In this case, the prosecutor requires more information from investigators that would take more than 24 hours to compile throughout the weekend.
‘We want the community to know that we are committed to justice in this case and every case and work everyday to seek that justice for all victims of all crimes,’ Graves said while noting that she was ‘listening’ and understood the community’s ‘concern.’
On Sunday afternoon, the Chief of the Kansas City Police Department, Stacey Graves, also justified the decision to release the alleged gunman.
Ralph, center, was said to be trying to pick up his younger siblings from a friend’s house but went to the wrong address
Hundreds of protesters turned up out outside the alleged gunman’s home on 115th Street on Sunday afternoon, demanding immediate justice
Protestors marched in the neighborhood where Thursday night’s shooting took place
Hundreds gathered outsider the home of the alleged gunman to demand justice
A march was held on Sunday afternoon to demand the arrest of the gunman
Graves explained how detectives were working to compile forensic evidence and to take a formal statement from Ralph before deciding whether to bring charges.
She assured the community that the police department was committed to justice in the case.
Graves said the KCPD will forward the case to the Clay County prosecutor’s office to what determine charges, if any, be brought.
Despite such assurances, hundreds of protesters turned up out outside the alleged gunman’s home on 115th Street on Sunday afternoon, demanding immediate justice.
Ralph’s family described him as a fantastic child who dreamt of attending Texas A&M for chemical engineering.
A talented bass clarinet player, Ralph also leads a section of his school’s marching band and plays multiple instruments in the Northland Symphony Youth Orchestra.
‘Ralph can often be found with a musical instrument,’ aunt Spoonmore wrote. ‘He loves them all.’
She noted how it was a miracle that her nephew was alive.
‘He is our miracle. We have heard these types of stories many times, and unfortunately, most black boys are not alive to get another chance.’
‘This was not an ‘error.’ This is a hate crime,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘You don’t shoot a child in the head because he rang your doorbell.’
According to his family members, Ralph’s teacher and friends describe him as ‘ a kind soul,’ ‘quiet,’ ‘friendly,’ ‘well-mannered,’ ‘always willing to help,’ ‘super smart,’ and a ‘musical genius.’