Black Missouri Teenager Shot after Ringing the Wrong Door Bell to Pick up Siblings. Shooter was Released by the Police Soon After.

Raph Yarl, 16, was shot by a white homeowner after the teenager rang his doorbell, mistaking his house for a family friend’s house, where his young brothers were staying on Thursday. The police released the shooter soon after.

Yarl was supposed to pick up his brothers from 115th Street. He rang the wrong doorbell and was shot twice in the head and the arm. The 16-year-old is struggling for his life in a Kansas hospital.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves initially said the suspect was taken into custody and placed on a 24-hour hold. However, reports suggest that he has now been released. Missouri law allows a suspect to be detained for 24 hours for a felony investigation.

A GoFundMe page has been launched for Yarl. “Even though he is doing well physically, he has a long road ahead mentally and emotionally,” the page notes.

The attorneys for the teenager slammed the release of the shoot. Attorney Lee Merritt and Ben Crump released a statement blasting the Kansas City Police authorities. “There can be no excuse for the release of this armed and dangerous suspect,” the statement said.

 

Hundreds of protestors took to the streets on Sunday, chanting “Justice for Ralph” and “Black lives matter.” They were holding signs that read, “Ringing a doorbell is not a crime,” and “The Shooter should do the time.”

The incident which happened on the 13th is finally garnering the national spotlight with celebrities and actresses tweeting in support of the teenager.

Hail Berry said in a tweet: “His name is #RalphYarl and I’m sick and tired of this feeling…my heart completely broke when I learned this precious 16-year-old, who accidentally rang the door of the wrong address in an attempt to pick up his siblings, was shot in the head by a man who didn’t want him on his property.

“Once again, the state of Missouri has witnessed the shooting of an unarmed Black, male teenager, this time because he knocked on the wrong door while picking up his siblings,” Democratic Missouri State rep Marlene Kerry told a KCTV reporter.