Family of teen shot after ringing doorbell at wrong house sues homeowner

The family of Ralph Yahr, the black teenager who was shot in the head after going to the wrong house, announced they will file a civil lawsuit in Missouri against the suspected shooter and his homeowners association.

The complaint filed on behalf of Jarl’s mother, Cleo Nagbe, names the gunman, Andrew Lester, and the Highland Acres Lakeside Heights Homeowners Association. Neither the association nor Mr. Lester’s lawyer, Steve Salmon, were immediately available for comment.

The lawsuit alleges that Jarl was “permanently injured” due to “carelessness” and “negligence.”

The complaint alleges that Mr. Yahr “at no time made any threats or threatened defendant Andrew Lester.” The association added that it “was aware, or should have been aware, of defendant Andrew Lester’s violent tendencies, access to dangerous weapons, and racial animus.”

The lawsuit also states that Jarl “is liable to suffer permanent injuries, endure temporary and permanent pain and suffering, experience disability or loss of normal life activities, and incur significant costs for medical care and treatment.” and suffered other losses and losses.” Compensation for damages. ”

Jarl, who turns 18 next month, suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after the shooting, but is continuing to recover, according to his mother.

The family’s attorney, Lee Merritt, said the civil suit “gives the family an opportunity to be in the driver’s seat in pursuing justice for Ralph,” according to the paper. Associated Press.

Lester shot and killed Jarl, who was 16 years old at the time, on April 13, 2023. He said Jarl had misspelled the name of the street where he was sent to pick up his brother.

Lester, 84, was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in connection with the shooting. His trial is scheduled to begin on October 7th.

At Lester’s hearing last year, Jarl testified that he rang the doorbell, Lester opened the interior door and reached for the shutters. Leicester told Jarl, “Never come here again.”

Lester then shot Jarl in the head, knocking him to the ground, and then shot him in the arm.

Lester was detained by police for about two hours on the night of the shooting. According to court documents, the boy told police he saw Jarl pulling on the outside door handle and was “scared to death” because of the boy’s size.

However, Jarl’s family said he was 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed just 140 pounds.

Still, Lester’s lawyers argue that the retired aircraft mechanic acted in self-defense.

But lawyers for Jarl’s family argued that Lester was negligent in assessing the level of threat on the night of the shooting.

“The lawsuit is based on what he said,” Merritt told The Associated Press. “If he’s saying, ‘I mistakenly thought this person was a burglar,’ you’re saying it was negligence. You weren’t paying enough attention. The person who rings the doorbell. No one is a robber.”