Ralph Yarl: Andrew Lester, accused of shooting black teen, is in custody

An 84-year-old man in Missouri accused of shooting a black teenager who mistakenly rang his doorbell has turned himself in, authorities said.

Andrew Lester has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, prosecutors said.

Mr Lester, who is white, allegedly shot Ralph Yarl, 16, who is black, once in the head and once in the arm last Thursday night. The boy survived.

A prosecutor said there was a “racial component” to the shooting.

Mr Lester has not been charged with a hate crime, and charging documents do not describe the alleged racial bias.

He will remain at the Clay County Detention Center until his arraignment, or until he posts a bond, the sheriff’s office told the BBC.

Mr Yarl told authorities he had mistakenly approached Mr Lester’s home last Thursday night to pick up his younger twin brothers, driving to Northeast 115 Street instead of Northeast 115th Terrace, which is one block away.

After Mr Yarl rang the doorbell, Mr Lester shot the teenager twice -…

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This article was written by and originally published on www.bbc.co.uk