Andrew Lester, 86, dies after guilty plea in Ralph Yarl shooting

Andrew Lester, the 86-year-old Missouri man who shot Black teenager Ralph Yarl in 2023 after Yarl mistakenly rang his doorbell, has died just days after pleading guilty to second-degree assault. Lester was awaiting sentencing, scheduled for March 7, where he faced up to seven years in prison. The shooting, which left Yarl injured but alive, sparked national outrage and discussions about race and gun laws, particularly because Yarl was shot after mistakenly approaching Lester's home while trying to pick up his siblings. While prosecutors acknowledged Lester's guilty plea, Yarl's family expressed their frustration, stating that justice was never truly served as Lester escaped sentencing. They emphasized the racial implications of the case, which had a significant impact on public discourse. Following Lester's death, the Clay County prosecutor's office indicated they would move to dismiss the case against him, effectively closing the legal proceedings.