16 Year Old Honor Student Shot Twice For Ringing Doorbell

16 year old Ralph Yarl, an honor student,2022 scholar recipient and all state band member went to pick up his young twin brothers from a friend's house. He was supposed to go 115 Terrace. He did not have his phone and went a block over to 115 St. He rang the doorbell. The home owner shot him through the door in the head then after he fell, shot again. He managed to get up and went to three houses before anyone would call 911. The home owner never called 911. The home owner was picked up and released. After outrage from the community, the police are now gathering more evidence, but refuse to say more. The family is seeking his arrest and a hate crime charge. The boy is hospitalized.

Such a shame. Why are people so terrified? To shoot through the door? To shoot him a second time? Not call 911? Others refusing to help? Just sad. Hoping for a full recovery for the boy.

We had a similar incident here in my state a few years ago with a lost kid knocking on a door. The shooter was charged and found guilty.

Already seeing social media posts from those trying to excuse it. Calling the boy a man, stating he must of been threatening or trying to get into the house. It's not surprising, but sad. I also feel for the parents,especially if they asked him to pick up his brothers. The guilt would be enormous along with the "what ifs".

The Kansas City Star reported the 16-year-old boy, who family members have identified online as Ralph Yarl, rang the doorbell and was immediately shot by the homeowner who answered it.

Yarl was meant to pick up his brothers from a friend’s house on 115th Terrace. He ended up ringing the doorbell at a home on 115th Street, Faith Spoonmore, the teen’s aunt, wrote online.

A man opened the door, saw Yarl and shot him in the head. When Yarl fell to the ground, the man shot him again. Yarl got up and ran from the property, but he had to ask at three different homes before someone helped him, Spoonmore said.

NBC News

It is a stand your ground state, so guess we will see how this plays out.

a reply to: frogs453

In today's environment, you need to keep your phone on you. He should have called his brother from the curb before knocking.

a reply to: frogs453

sometimes called "line in the sand" or "no duty to retreat" law, provides that people may use deadly force when they reasonably believe it to be necessary to defend against certain violent crimes.

This would be textbook manslaughter unless investigators can demonstrate actual motive behind the assault.

a reply to: frogs453

Even if it is a stand your ground state. Shooting at an unarmed person who's not attacking is against the law. The shooter needs to go to jail.

originally posted by: Deetermined
a reply to: frogs453

In today's environment, you need to keep your phone on you. He should have called his brother from the curb before knocking.

Ideally yes, but I've certainly left my house at times and forgotten my phone. It happens. Should you be shot for ringing a doorbell though?

originally posted by: TzarChasm
a reply to: frogs453

sometimes called "line in the sand" or "no duty to retreat" law, provides that people may use deadly force when they reasonably believe it to be necessary to defend against certain violent crimes.

Sure, but I wasn't aware ringing a doorbell is a violent crime to defend yourself against.

a reply to: frogs453

Didn't say it was.

This person could have been so much more creative if they were just going to shoot through the door.

Like where’s the false floor that falls open onto spikes? Or a cauldron of tar that can be poured down a murder hole right above the front door?

What a waste.

a reply to: frogs453

One point in the op it says he was shot through the door. Another, in the quote, says he was shot after the door was open and the guy came out. Which is it?

It is terrible ether way but knowing might help understand why he was shot.

Was the shooter under the influence of something?

In my book that's attempted murder, pure and simple.

I can only assume, in slight mitigation, that the homeowner had been plagued by kids ringing his doorbell and running away and had finally had enough? What other possible explanation?

You should have sensationalized it more in your OP.

Nowhere did you mention that this occurred after 10pm. Not an excuse for the shooting and we know nothing about the shooter at this time but a knock on the door that late and I myself am armed when I go to the door.

"After outrage from the community, the police are now gathering more evidence, but refuse to say more."- This a lie. It has been an ongoing investigation since the police were called. Community activists are calling for the shooters arrest without letting the investigation progress.'

We can all make assumptions regarding this incident and we would all be wrong for doing so. Let the investigation conclude and the facts come out.

Ultimately, this is a terrible tragedy that affects 2 families and an entire community without sensationalizing it further.

a reply to: frogs453

Terrible for the poor boy and his parents. His poor parents must feel so guilty for asking him to pick up his brothers
If he doesn't make a full recovery the shooter should be charged with manslaughter. I can't see any reason why he would feel threatened , unless he was hearing/seeing things ?

originally posted by: beyondknowledge2
a reply to: frogs453

One point in the op it says he was shot through the door. Another, in the quote, says he was shot after the door was open and the guy came out. Which is it?

It is terrible ether way but knowing might help understand why he was shot.

Was the shooter under the influence of something?

Both. He was shot twice. Once in the head through the door and again after he was down.

originally posted by: ancientlight
a reply to: frogs453

Terrible for the poor boy and his parents. His poor parents must feel so guilty for asking him to pick up his brothers

If he doesn't make a full recovery the shooter should be charged with manslaughter. I can't see any reason why he would feel threatened , unless he was hearing/seeing things ?

I have to wonder why the parents thought it was appropriate to send their unaccompanied 16 year old to retrieve his siblings. Every door has a Schrodinger's sociopath behind it. You can't know for sure until a qualified adult has inspected the residence and confirmed the mental state of the inhabitants.

a reply to: Moon68

And? Your doorbell rings after 10pm so you just shoot through the door? You can speak without a door open. You don't ask"who is it?". Kid would have said, something like "Ralph, here to get my brothers". You then tell them it's the wrong house. Is it really that difficult?

I had someone do that after dark superbowl Sunday. Knocked on the door. They actually wanted the house across the street that was recently purchased. I didn't have to shoot anyone.

a reply to: frogs453

Have there been home invasions or robberies in the area lately?

What time was it? Late at night?

How hard was he knocking on the door?

Was he being threatening?

None of these questions are addressed in the source.

originally posted by: frogs453
a reply to: Moon68

And? Your doorbell rings after 10pm so you just shoot through the door? You can speak without a door open. You don't ask"who is it?". Kid would have said, something like "Ralph, here to get my brothers". You then tell them it's the wrong house. Is it really that difficult?

I had someone do that after dark superbowl Sunday. Knocked on the door. They actually wanted the house across the street that was recently purchased. I didn't have to shoot anyone.

No, I don't shoot through the door. What I'm saying is that we don't have much in the way of facts in this incident so far. We don't know what behaviors this young man exhibited at the door. He could have presented as a fine young man or an azzhole. The shooter could be a psycho in hiding or was pulled from medicated sleep by pounding on their door. It could be an abused woman whose abuser said they were coming to get her. The point is WE DON'T KNOW!

a reply to: watchitburn

He rang the doorbell. 10:30. There has been no report of threatening behavior. Not sure why a boy picking up his younger brothers would be threatening anyone.

You would think if that were the case the man would have called 911 to report it. The kid had to go to 3 houses and ask for help before 911 was called.

a reply to: Moon68

Being an azzhole doesn't merit lethal force. Observing a physical threat to your person merits some amount of force but this boy had no weapons and no dialogue was exchanged to suggest malice or criminal intent.

a reply to: frogs453

Such a shame. Why are people so terrified? To shoot through the door?

although not the highest crime rate ranking city in the U.S. it's was in the Top 10 in 2020, so there's that, as the old saying goes better to be judged by 12, than be carried by 6.

Kansas City reportedly has the 8th highest violent crime rate in the U.S. It had 7,919 violent crimes in 2020, a 9.2% increase over the prior year.
Three Missouri cities in top ten for most violent crime rate in U.S.

We added North Kansas City to the numbers in this review of the most dangerous cities in Missouri. Kansas City would have made the list on its own, but as an enclave of the city, the independent municipality is still part of the Kansas City culture. The total crime rate between the two cities was 94.54 cases per 1,000 people in 2020. On its own, Kansas City had the second-highest murder rate at 0.35 cases per 1,000 people. The 176 murders committed in 2020 were the most in the city’s reported history dating back to 1985. In general, violent crimes have been level in Kansas City from 2016-2020, but property crime shows a downward trend. Though there was a slight uptick in reported property crimes from the previous year, numbers in 2020 were the second-lowest they had been in the city since 1985. Interestingly, North Kansas City, an independent municipality almost completely surrounded by Kansas City, had an extremely high reported crime rate of 246.37 offenses per 1,000 residents. The crime rate in the small city of fewer than 5,000 residents has been high historically, but property crime has notably increased since reaching its lowest point in 2009. Between burglary, larceny, arson, and motor vehicle theft, residents saw the most reported property crimes in the area since 2006.
10 Most Dangerous Cities in Missouri (2023 Update)

With a crime rate of 57 per one thousand residents, Kansas City has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 17. Within Missouri, more than 96% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Kansas City. In fact, after researching dangerous places to live, NeighborhoodScout found Kansas City to be one of the top 100 most dangerous cities in the U.S.A.
Kansas City, MO crime analytics

that being said the guy should have called the cops after shooting.