Family of a Black teen who was shot after ringing the wrong doorbell files lawsuit against homeowner
LATEST RUN OF FUTURE SCAN THAT’S COMING UP. NOW LET’S GET TO THAT BREAKING NEWS. THE FAMILY OF THE NORTHLAND TEEN SHOT LAST YEAR IS SUING THE MAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING HIM. WRAP YOUR ALL IN. THIS FAMILY ARE FILING A CIVIL LAWSUIT AND THEY JUST FINISHED SPEAKING ABOUT THAT DECISION. AND KMBC NINE’S ANDY ALCOCK IS LIVE OUTSIDE THE CLAY COUNTY COURTHOUSE WITH WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. ANDY. YEAH, LAURA AND BRYA, RALPH’S MOTHER, CLEO NAGBE, READ A BRIEF PREPARED STATEMENT ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR AGO. SHE DID NOT TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. HOWEVER, SHE DID SAY THIS LAWSUIT IS ABOUT SEEKING ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE. IT WAS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, ON APRIL 13TH, 2023, RALPH MISTAKENLY WENT TO ANDREW LESSER’S HOME TO PICK UP HIS TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS FROM A FRIEND’S HOUSE. LEICESTER SHOT JARRELL, WHO WAS 16 AT THE TIME, TWICE IN INCLUDING ONCE IN THE HEAD. THE LAWSUIT CALLS THE SHOOTING CARELESS AND NEGLIGENT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. LEICESTER IS WHITE AND JARRELL IS BLACK. THIS RACIALLY CHARGED CASE HAS GARNERED NATIONAL ATTENTION. JARRELL’S FAMILY SAYS THIS CASE IS ABOUT JUSTICE FOR RALPH AND ALSO TO ADVOCATE FOR MEANINGFUL REFORMS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM GUN VIOLENCE. THIS CASE IS NOT JUST ABOUT SEEKING JUSTICE FOR RALPH, BUT ABOUT ADVOCATING FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE LAWS THAT PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF ALL CHILDREN. WE REFUSE TO LET RALPH SUFFERING BE IN VAIN, AND LEICESTER’S ATTORNEY, STEVE STEVE SALMON, SENT A STATEMENT A SHORT WHILE AGO. HE SAYS HE IS AWARE OF THE LAWSUIT AGAINST MR. LEICESTER AND THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. HE’S IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING IT AND AT SOME POINT HE WILL TALK TO LEICESTER ABOUT IT. REPORTING LIVE IN LIBERTY ANDY ALCOCK KMBC NINE NEWS. ANDY
Family of a Black teen who was shot after ringing the wrong doorbell files lawsuit against homeowner
Updated: 5:47 PM CDT Apr 29, 2024
The family of Ralph Yarl, a teenager who was shot and injured last year when he knocked on the wrong door, filed a civil lawsuit in Missouri on Monday against the accused shooter, Andrew Lester and the Highland Acres Lakeside Heights Homeowners Association.The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Yarl’s mother, Cleo Nagbe.The complaint accuses Lester and the HOA of careless and negligent acts that have led to permanent injuries and damage.According to the civil complaint, Yarl “suffered and sustained permanent injuries, endured pain and suffering of a temporary and permanent nature, experienced disability and losses of normal life activities, was obligated to spend large sums of money for medical care and attention and suffered other losses and damages.” The lawsuit alleges that Highland Acres failed to communicate regulations on discharging firearms within the neighborhood and that the association failed to render aid to Yarl after he was shot.Yarl’s family is seeking unspecified monetary compensation for Yarl’s medical care, legal services, and other losses and damages. The civil case also comes ahead of Lester’s criminal trial, which is set to begin on Oct. 7, 2024. The 85-year-old was charged with one count of first-degree felony assault and one count of armed criminal action in connection with the shooting. Lester pleaded not guilty and was released on $200,000 bond.According to police, Yarl was shot in the head and right arm by Lester after the teen arrived at the wrong home to pick up his twin brothers from a friend’s house. Yarl suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a result of the shooting. Lester maintained he believed someone was trying to break into his house. Yarl’s family released a statement regarding the civil lawsuit on Monday:”Today, on behalf of my son Ralph Yarl, we stand before you to announce a significant step towards justice and accountability. The attorney, Lee Merritt, representing Ralph, has taken the necessary action by filing a civil case in Clay County Court. This incident not only shattered our family but also exposed a critical gap in our societal fabric, where the safety of our children is jeopardized by reckless actions.”Through this civil suit, we aim to spark a dialogue on the importance of responsible gun ownership and community safety measures of using words, not weapons. It’s not just about seeking financial compensation; it’s about holding all parties involved accountable and ensuring that steps are taken to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.”Including the homeowner’s association (HOA) in this lawsuit underscores the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding our communities. Their knowledge of a potentially dangerous individual in the neighborhood without taking adequate precautions is unacceptable. This case is not just about seeking justice for Ralph but about advocating for systemic changes that prioritize the safety and well-being of all children.”We refuse to let Ralph’s suffering be in vain. His ordeal must serve as a wake-up call for our nation to prioritize child safety and enact meaningful reforms to protect our youth from gun violence. We hope this civil suit will ignite a nationwide movement toward creating safer environments for our children to thrive without fear.”
The family of Ralph Yarl, a teenager who was shot and injured last year when he knocked on the wrong door, filed a civil lawsuit in Missouri on Monday against the accused shooter, Andrew Lester and the Highland Acres Lakeside Heights Homeowners Association.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Yarl’s mother, Cleo Nagbe.
The complaint accuses Lester and the HOA of careless and negligent acts that have led to permanent injuries and damage.
According to the civil complaint, Yarl “suffered and sustained permanent injuries, endured pain and suffering of a temporary and permanent nature, experienced disability and losses of normal life activities, was obligated to spend large sums of money for medical care and attention and suffered other losses and damages.”
The lawsuit alleges that Highland Acres failed to communicate regulations on discharging firearms within the neighborhood and that the association failed to render aid to Yarl after he was shot.
Yarl’s family is seeking unspecified monetary compensation for Yarl’s medical care, legal services, and other losses and damages.
The civil case also comes ahead of Lester’s criminal trial, which is set to begin on Oct. 7, 2024.
The 85-year-old was charged with one count of first-degree felony assault and one count of armed criminal action in connection with the shooting. Lester pleaded not guilty and was released on $200,000 bond.
According to police, Yarl was shot in the head and right arm by Lester after the teen arrived at the wrong home to pick up his twin brothers from a friend’s house.
Yarl suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a result of the shooting.
Lester maintained he believed someone was trying to break into his house.
Yarl’s family released a statement regarding the civil lawsuit on Monday:
“Today, on behalf of my son Ralph Yarl, we stand before you to announce a significant step towards justice and accountability. The attorney, Lee Merritt, representing Ralph, has taken the necessary action by filing a civil case in Clay County Court. This incident not only shattered our family but also exposed a critical gap in our societal fabric, where the safety of our children is jeopardized by reckless actions.
“Through this civil suit, we aim to spark a dialogue on the importance of responsible gun ownership and community safety measures of using words, not weapons. It’s not just about seeking financial compensation; it’s about holding all parties involved accountable and ensuring that steps are taken to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.
“Including the homeowner’s association (HOA) in this lawsuit underscores the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding our communities. Their knowledge of a potentially dangerous individual in the neighborhood without taking adequate precautions is unacceptable. This case is not just about seeking justice for Ralph but about advocating for systemic changes that prioritize the safety and well-being of all children.
“We refuse to let Ralph’s suffering be in vain. His ordeal must serve as a wake-up call for our nation to prioritize child safety and enact meaningful reforms to protect our youth from gun violence. We hope this civil suit will ignite a nationwide movement toward creating safer environments for our children to thrive without fear.”
