A neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, was stricken with sorrow this past Thursday evening when a 16-year-old African American teen, Ralph Yarl, was shot in the head after unintentionally ringing the wrong doorbell as he went to pick up his siblings.
Yarl was instantly brought to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and is still recovering. The owner of the residence where the young man had gone was apprehended by police officers and released within 24 hours.
The Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) mentioned the shooting is being looked into as a case of mistaken identity and is still gathering evidence to fulfill the investigation.
Stacey Graves, Chief of the KCPD, said authorities would be in contact with the Clay County Prosecutor’s office with the evidence they have collected. It was heartbreaking to learn that Ralph had intended to go to an address just a block away from the scene of the incident.
As reports of the shooting spread, city government leaders shared their sentiments of outrage. Mayor Quinton Lucas voiced his concern, saying the Kansas City Police Department is devoting the full attention of their force and that the case was not being ignored.
Lawyer Ben Crump stated in an interview with the Kansas City Star that citizens could not shoot people without proper justification and that knocking on one’s door does not grant an individual such permission.
The shooting of Ralph Yarl is a tragic event for the community. The Kansas City Police Department is gathering evidence to bring justice to the case and confirm the shooter’s actions. Individuals must acknowledge the gravity of this incident and the consequences of their actions.