Community members are demanding justice after a white man in Kansas City shot a black boy, Ralph Yarl, twice for ringing the doorbell of the wrong home.
KANSAS CITY, MO – Ralph Yarl, a 16 year old Black boy, was shot twice by a white man in North Kansas City after accidentally ringing the doorbell of the wrong home while attempting to pick up his sibling. The white man reportedly shot Ralph in the head through the glass door, then when Yarl was already bleeding out on the ground, shot him again. The family has described it as a hate crime, and community members are calling for justice for the young victim.
“This was not an ‘error’; this was a hate crime. You don’t shoot a child in the head because he rang your doorbell. The fact that the police said it was an ‘error’ is why America is the way it is,” said Dr. Faith Spoonmore, the aunt of Ralph Yarl.
Reports indicate that the white man was taken to the police headquarters briefly to provide a statement but was released shortly after without charge. Yarl’s family is outraged that the perpetrator has not been held accountable.
According to Dr. Spoonmore, “This man intended to kill an innocent child simply because he rang the doorbell of the wrong house. He looked him in the face and shot him… and the individual is free to go about his day as if he did a great deed. While my nephew Ralph Yarl is a great kid, an intelligent kid, a black boy is left with so many broken pieces.”
Lee Merritt, a nationally recognized civil rights lawyer who has represented Ahmaud Arbery and Cameron Lamb, has taken up the case. Shaun King, a well-known activist and journalist, is also assisting with the case. Since the story was first reported by The Kansas City Defender yesterday, it has gone viral across social media platforms, reaching millions of people.
A protest is scheduled for today as community members continue to demand justice for Ralph Yarl. The Yarl family is urging supporters to help spread awareness about the case and bring attention to the issue of racial violence in America.
This is a developing story and more updates will be provided as they become available.
