Andrew Lester pleads not guilty in shooting of Black teenager Ralph Yarl

The 84-year-old Kansas City homeowner who shot a teenager that mistakenly rang his doorbell, thinking he was at another address, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Missouri.

Using a cane, Andrew Lester slowly shuffled up to a circuit court judge and mumbled his plea.

Lester, who is white, is accused of twice shooting 16-year-old Ralph Yarl last week after the Black teen went to the door of NE 115 Street rather than NE 115 Terrace, where he planned to pick up his twin brothers from a friend’s house. Prosecutors believe race was a factor.

Lester is charged with opening the main door to his home, then firing through the second one made of glass, striking Yarl in his head and arm. Yarl survived his injuries and returned home Monday, to be cared for by family members who are medical professionals.

Cleo Nagbe, Yarl’s mother, told “CBS Mornings” her son often sits quietly replaying his near-death experience in his mind.

“Mostly he just sits there and stares, and the buckets of tears just rolls down his eyes,” she said.

Lester said he was in bed when Yarl showed up at his door and became “scared to death” when he encountered the young honor roll student. No words were exchanged before the alleged gunman opened fire, according to an affidavit.

Lester claimed Yarl was trying to open his exterior storm door. After shooting the victim, he allegedly said, “Don’t come around here.”

Lester turned himself in Tuesday and was released on $200,000 bail. He could face life in prison if convicted of first-degree assault. Lester claims he was protecting himself.

With News Wire Services