A 16-year-old boy was shot and seriously wounded while attempting to pick up his younger siblings from a friend’s house Thursday night.
According to police, the teen who family have identified as Ralph Yarl, went to the wrong house and was shot by the homeowner outside of the residence.
On Sunday family members expressed gratitude that Ralph was alive, but also shared their desire for charges to be brought against the suspect.
“We are telling a story that is different from the stories you normally hear,” Dr. Faith Spoonmore, Ralph’s aunt, told KSHB. “He is alive and he is healing.”
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Reports indicate that Kansas City Police responded to calls about shots fired on April 13 and when they arrived they found 16-year-old Ralph Yarl who had been shot by a homeowner.
According to a GoFundMe set up by his aunt, after the homeowner shot him once in the head and then another time after he fell to the ground, Ralph was able to get up and run to a neighbor’s house looking for help.
Unfortunately he had to go to three different houses before he was able to find someone who would help.
The teenager was taken to a local hospital in stable condition. His current condition is unknown, though his family has said he is “healing.”
During their investigation police learned Ralph’s parents asked him to pick up his younger siblings from a friend’s house. He was told to pick them up at a house in the 1100 block of Northeast 115th Terrace, but accidentally went to a home in the 1100 block of Northeast 115th Street.
The homeowner was taken into custody Thursday and placed on a 24-hour hold. The suspect was released pending further investigation.
Police Chief Stacey Graves said Missouri law allows a suspect to be held for 24 hours for a felony investigation, but after 24 hours they must be released or arrested.
A firearm was recovered during the investigation.
“As soon as the case is complete, it will be presented to the Clay County prosecutor for their review,” Graves said. “I want everyone to know that I am listening and I understand the concern we are receiving from the community.”
Mayor Quinton Lucas also expressed his support for the investigation and promised, “We will make sure we do all we can to be fair, to make sure we’re as expeditious as possible and more than anything to make sure that everyone, no matter their background, knows that justice can be obtained here in Kansas City.”
Investigators will look into whether the crime was racially motivated and if the suspect was protected within the Stand Your Ground laws.
The answer is plain and simple. No more guns. What good do they do?
