Ralph Yarl’s mother – ‘Doctors cannot believe my boy survived shooting’

Ralph Yarl, age 16, was shot in the head and in the arm after he went to pick up his younger brothers on Thursday night.

His mother said that instead of receiving a hug from his siblings he received a couple of bullets instead.

84-year-old Andrew Lester is accused of first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

A prosecutor claimed that the shooting had racial overtones. The alleged racial bias is not detailed in the charging documents, and Mr. Lester has not been accused of committing a hate crime.

Mr. Yarl’s mother Cleo Nagbe revealed that her son was at home and surrounded by a group of medical experts.

She claimed that after being shot at close range, doctors were baffled as to how he had survived.

Recounting the events of last Thursday, Ms. Nagbe said her son had accidentally knocked on Mr. Lester’s door while attempting to pick up his younger twin brothers from a friend’s house at around 22:00 local time.

The boy rang the bell twice after going to 115th Street rather than 115th Terrace.

After being shot, he went to three nearby homes before getting assistance, according to family members.

Mr. Lester told the police that he fired two shots through his door because he thought someone was breaking into his house.

A question regarding Mr. Lester’s assertion that he was “fearing for his life” was directed to family lawyer Lee Merritt, who was present with Ms. Nagbe.

Mr. Merritt responded, “It is unjustifiable to use this level of force when we hear he feared for his life and we know he was confronted with a 16-year-old boy ringing his doorbell.”

When asked what would happen next, Mr. Merritt responded that the family would speak with the prosecution later on Tuesday to inquire as to why attempted murder was not listed as a charge.