Who is Andrew Lester? Ralph Yarl shooter turns himself in

Andrew Lester, the homeowner who shot Ralph Yarl after the teen rang the wrong doorbell, turns himself in.

Elderly Man Surrenders for Shooting Black Teen

After an arrest warrant was issued, 84-year-old Andrew Lester surrendered on charges related to the shooting of Ralph Yarl, a black teenager.

Authorities stated that more than 20 hours had passed after the charges were filed against him.

Lester shot Yarl in the head and arm after the teen rang the wrong doorbell, as he was trying to pick up his younger brothers.

Lester was arrested and interviewed last week and was released after being advised by Clay County prosecutors to release him pending further investigation.

Kansas City Police Department had yet to arrest him, and members of their department were working to bring him into custody, according to Sgt. Jacob Becchina.

Becchina said that the Clay County Sheriff’s (jail) would also welcome him to turn himself in at any of their detention facilities.

Lester was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Bail was set at $200,000.

Yarl, who was shot in the forehead and arm, has been released from the hospital and is recuperating at home with his family.

Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and S. Lee Merritt are representing Yarl and his family.

Demonstrators protested in Kansas City streets after the shooting. The teen told police he had been sent by his mother to pick up his younger twin brothers at a friend’s house, according to the arrest affidavit.

Yarl had never been to Lester’s house before and rang the doorbell. Lester told police that the person outside his home tried to open the screen door, which was locked. Yarl told officers he did not try to open the door.

The teen said he ran after being shot and went to several homes asking for help and for someone to call 911.

Lester told authorities he was “scared to death” by someone ringing his doorbell at about 10 p.m. and thought someone was trying to break into his house.

Prosecutor Thompson said there was “a racial component” to the case but did not elaborate.