The 86-year-old Missouri man died days after pleading guilty to the shooting of Ralph Yarl, an honorary black student who accidentally rang a white doorbell in 2023, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Kansas City's Andrew Leicester was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal lawsuits in the shooting of the then 16-year-old, now a Texas A&M freshman. Before his trial began, he pleaded guilty on Friday to lesser charges of second assault, carrying him back the bar for up to seven years. He was scheduled to be sentenced on March 7th.
Cher Congur, a spokesman for the Clay County Prosecutor's Office, said Leicester's attorney informed them of his death.
“We learned of Andrew Lester's passing and gave sincere pacity to his family during this difficult time,” the prosecutor's office said in a news release. “The legal process is now concluded, but in this case Mr. Leicester pleaded guilty and admitted that he had held guilty and held liability for his actions.”
The news release provided no cause of death. Kansas City police said they had not investigated the deaths. And Sarah Boyd, a spokesman for the Clay County Sheriff's Office, said there was no information on Leicester's cause of death as he was not in custody, but he said in a plea hearing last week, “health condition is not good.” It's bad,” he said.
Yar's family said in a written statement Wednesday that what happened was one of the reasons they sought a swift trial.
“Now, another black child, traumatic by prejudice, will never see the man who shot him face the full weight of the judicial system. Leicester finally admitted his guilt, It came in its final moments – after two years of stalling. That delay will rewind our family,” the statement said.
The incident shocked the country and renewed national debate on gun policy and race in the United States.
Yarl appeared at Leicester's gateway on the night of April 13th, 2023.
Leicester's lawyer, Steve Salmon, claimed that Leicester was acting in self-defense and that he was scared of the stranger who knocked on the door as he settled into bed. Authorities say Leicester shot Yal twice: first in his head, then in his arms.
Yar testified at the hearing that he was waiting for him to ring the bell and someone to answer what appears to be “longer than normal.” As the inside door opened, Yar said, assuming he was with the parents of his sibling's friend, he reached out to grab the storm door.
He said Leicester shot him in the head and said, “Don't come here again.” The bullet didn't penetrate Yar's brain, but the impact hit him on the ground. Yar said Leicester shot him in the arm. The teen was taken to hospital and released three days later.
His family said the shooting had been a major emotional cost and they filed a lawsuit against a retired aircraft mechanic.
Salmon said last year that Leicester's physical and mental state had deteriorated. He said Leicester had heart problems, had broken lower back and was hospitalized. Also, Leicester lost 50 pounds (23kg). This condemned the intense media coverage and the stress of death threats that Salmon had subsequently suffered.
During Friday's hearing, Leicester was moved around to court, causing his hands to be folded. When asked if he was in poor health, Lester replied yes.
The judge had previously ordered a mental assessment of Leicester, but allowed the trial to proceed once it was completed. The results of the evaluation have not been published.
Leicester's grandson, Daniel Ludwig, did not immediately text a text message from the Associated Press for comment.
