The grandson of Andrew Lester, the white Kansas City man who shot 16-year-old Ralph Yarl says he “wasn’t shocked” because Lester “holds racist tendencies.”
Source: Kansas City Police/Family / Family/Police
On Thursday, Klint Ludwig shared his feelings with CNN about his 84-year-old grandfather. Ludwig explained, “
The warning signs were there. I wasn’t shocked when I heard the news, I believe he held – holds – racist tendencies and beliefs.”
However, his big brother Daniel disagrees, asserting race did not play a role in their grandfather’s shooting of Ralph at his front door.
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Police arrested the shady shooter, but Lester is a free man after posting a $200,000 bond. He pleaded not guilty to 2 felony charges — armed criminal action and first-degree assault on Wednesday.
The trigger-happy elder will appear back in court on June 1.
Ralph was instructed to pick up his siblings on April 13, but accidentally went to the wrong address. The teenager journeyed to 1100 NE 115th Street instead of 1100 NE 115th Terrace. After simply ringing his shooter’s doorbell, bullets pierced him in the head and arm.
According to a probable cause document obtained by CNN, there were no words exchanged before Lester released the shots through a locked glass door. He claimed he was “scared to death” of Ralph due to his size. The boy’s aunt reported him to be less than 6 feet tall and small in size.
The bass clarinetist has been released from the hospital, although his family, who describes Ralph as a “musical genius,” said he faces a long road to recovery.
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Daniel Ludwig believes his grandfather wouldn’t have fired his weapon at Ralph if he had not “gone for the door,” The Kansas City Star reported. Lester told the police he discharged his weapon when he saw the teen attempting to open the door by the handle, the probable cause document states.
The document also details Ralph’s account of never knocking on the door. The top bass Missouri clarinetist says he rang the doorbell and patiently waited before Lester appeared, immediately shooting him in the head.
As the talented musician lay helpless on the ground, his attacker fired another shot, landing in his arm.
Although the Ludwig brothers share different opinions about their grandfather, they both say the incident was unfortunate.