Ralph Yarl: Man accused of shooting teen on doorstep pleads not guilty

A Kansas City antheral accused of shooting a teen connected his doorstep has appeared successful tribunal to plead not blameworthy to charges of battle and equipped transgression action.

Andrew Lester, 84, allegedly changeable Ralph Yarl doubly aft the achromatic teen knocked connected the doorway of the incorrect location portion trying to prime up his younger brothers.

Mr Lester does not contradict that helium opened fire, but his lawyers accidental that helium thought the boy, 16, was a threat.

If convicted, Mr Lester whitethorn walk the remainder of his beingness successful prison.

Mr Lester dilatory entered the Clay County Courthouse connected Wednesday with the assistance of sheriff deputies and a walking cane.

He pleaded not blameworthy to the charges and mumbled answers to the judge's questions - astatine 1 constituent appearing to beryllium confused.

He was allowed to stay escaped connected bail pending trial, but was ordered to person his mobile telephone monitored and surrender his passport.

He was besides banned from accessing guns oregon going adjacent Ralph's family.

A authoritative had earlier said determination was a radical constituent to the transgression - which Ralph's household besides believes - but Mr Lester hasn't been charged with a hatred crime.

Meanwhile, a fundraiser for Ralph Yarl has topped $3.2m (£2.5m).

The GoFundMe page, started by his aunt, says the donations volition spell towards his aesculapian bills and therapy.

Any further funds volition screen his acquisition astatine Texas A&M University, and a long-awaited travel to West Africa.

Mr Lester, who is white, has not denied shooting the lad successful the caput and the arm, telling authorities helium believed helium was protecting himself from a confrontation. Prosecutors person said that Ralph, who is black, "did not transverse the threshold" of Mr Lester's home.

A lawyer for the Yarl household is calling for a national reappraisal of the case.

Police initially detained Mr Lester for questioning and released him without charges, sparking protests successful Kansas City.

Mr Lester turned himself successful to constabulary connected Tuesday, and was released aft posting 10% of a full $200,000 bail amount. He said successful tribunal connected Wednesday that helium had moved retired of his home, which has been the people of vandalism since the shooting.

Doctors who treated Ralph said this week they had nary thought however helium had survived.

Lee Merritt, a lawyer for the Yarl family, told the BBC that Ralph was suffering from code problems and had a agelong roadworthy to recovery.

"I deliberation he's an astonishing kid," said Mr Merritt, adding that the lad was amazed by each the attraction the lawsuit had been getting.

"It's a large woody due to the fact that the assemblage is bushed of their children being victimised and Ralph volition marque the change," said Mr Merritt.

Ralph's aunt, Faith Spoonmore, said successful an update that Ralph was present managing to locomotion and communicate.

She has been sharing the outpouring of enactment with her nephew, speechmaking emails and comments to him.

Ms Spoonmore said the wounded 16-year-old had to spell to 3 antithetic homes aft being shot, earlier idiosyncratic yet helped him.

Staley High School jazz set is holding a payment performance for Ralph, who plays successful the band, connected Thursday evening section time. Ticket and refreshment income volition spell to the Yarl household oregon their church.

On Tuesday, 1,500 students and unit of the schoolhouse held a unity locomotion successful enactment of the teenager.

President Biden, who spoke to Ralph and his household by phone, has invited him to the White House erstwhile he's sufficiently recovered.

He tweeted: "No genitor should person to interest that their kid volition beryllium changeable aft ringing the incorrect doorbell. We've got to support up the combat against weapon violence.

"And Ralph, we'll spot you successful the Oval erstwhile you consciousness better."