Man Who Shot Ralph Yarl After Black Teenager Mistakenly Rang Doorbell Dies While Awaiting Sentencing

A Missouri man who pleaded guilty last week to assault in the second-degree after shooting Ralph Yarl, an unarmed Black teenager who mistakenly went to the wrong door, has died.

Clay County prosecutor Zachary Thompson announced the news of Andrew Lester’s death on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

“We have learned of the passing of Andrew Lester and extend our sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time,” Thompson said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. “While the legal proceedings have now concluded, we acknowledge that Mr. Lester did take responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty in this case. Our thoughts remain with both families affected by this tragic incident as they continue their healing process.”

Lester, 86, was scheduled to be sentenced on March 7, according to the prosecutor’s office.

He entered his guilty plea on Friday, Feb. 14.

Prosecutors said Lester was not in custody at the time of his death. If he did not enter his plea, his trial would’ve been set for Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Ralph, who was 16 at the time, was shot twice in the head and right arm just before 10 p.m. on April 13, 2023, after he mistakenly went to the wrong house to pick up his little brothers from a playdate.

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Police said Ralph went to N.E. 115th St. instead of N.E. 115th Terrace, Fox 4 reports.

Ralph rang the bell and when the door opened, Lester, who is white, fired a handgun at him through the glass of the storm door, per a probable cause statement obtained by PEOPLE. Lester originally pleaded not guilty in 2023 and was released on a $200,000 bond, per ABC News.

According to the GoFundMe page, after Ralph was shot, he ran to three different homes before someone finally agreed to help him. He was told to lie on the ground with “his hands up,” the post read.

“This case centers on the reasonableness of actions taken, not the right to self-defense,” Thompson said after Lester’s guilty plea. “While we support homeowners’ rights to protect themselves, shooting an unarmed teenager through a locked door exceeds reasonable bounds. Ralph made an innocent mistake, and the consequences – being shot twice – far exceeded any reasonable response.”

Prosecutors asked for five years of incarceration for Lester.

In a statement, Yarl’s to Ralph’s family said Lester’s death “brings a mix of emotions, but it does not bring justice. One of the reasons we pushed for a speedy trial was to ensure the public would see that our society does not condone shooting an unarmed, innocent child simply for ringing the wrong doorbell—especially when that child was targeted because of the color of his skin,” Fox4 reported.

“For nearly two years, Andrew Lester never apologized. Instead, he and his attorney used every legal maneuver possible to delay accountability. Now, another Black child harmed by prejudice will never see the man who shot him face the full weight of the justice system. While Lester finally admitted guilt, it came at the very last moment—after two years of stalling. That delay leaves our family reeling,” the statement reads.

“Some may see Lester’s passing as a form of consequence for his actions, but the reality remains: Ralph Yarl survived, yet justice was never truly served. He has a lifetime ahead to carry the trauma of that night while the man responsible escaped sentencing. We remain committed to seeking a world where no child fears for their life because of their race and no family has to endure what we have. Ralph’s story is far from over, and neither is our fight for justice.”