Yarl went to a neighbor's house after he was shot, police say. Here's what else we know

A GoFundMe set up to help with medical expenses for Ralph Yarl has surpassed its $2 million goal as of Monday, the page shows.

It was started by Yarl's aunt Faith Spoonmore just one day ago, according to the page history.

The fund description says that the account will be used to pay for Yarl's "medical bills and therapy," and additional donations will go toward "college expenses at Texas A&M, a trip to West Africa, and other expenses."

CNN has reached out to Spoonmore for comment.

Ralph, a Black teenager, was allegedly shot twice by a White man when he rang the doorbell at the wrong address last Thursday.

The teen's parents had asked him to pick up his siblings at an address on 115th Terrace, but he accidentally went to a home on 115th Street, where he was "shot twice and struck in the head and arm," his family said.

The suspect, Andrew Lester, faces two felony charges, according to Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

A police officer drives past the house where 16-year-old Ralph Yarl was shot Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri. (Charlie Riedel/AP)

Andrew Lester, who was charged with shooting 16-year-old Ralph Yarl, could face a life sentence if he is convicted, Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said Monday. 

Felony assault in the first degree carries 10 to 30 years or life in prison, Thompson said. If convicted of the felony count of armed criminal action, Lester could face 3 to 15 years in prison, he said. 

When asked if hate crime charges could be added, Thompson said that a hate crime is a lower class of felony than the current charges, which would result in lower sentencing requirements. Thompson explained that adding additional hate crime charges would create an issue of double jeopardy.

Thompson said his office has been looking at the case in an “objective and impartial manner."

The White man suspected of shooting Ralp Yarl, a Black teen, was released last week after being held for about one hour in custody because of a Missouri law regarding charges, said Zachary Thompson, the Clay County prosecuting attorney.

Andrew D. Lester was taken into custody just before midnight on April 13 but was released at 1:24 a.m. on April 14, according to police department officials who spoke to CNN.

Ralph was shot on April 13 after he went to the wrong home in Kansas City, Missouri.

The teen's parents had asked him to pick up his siblings at an address on 115th Terrace, but he accidentally went to a home on 115th Street, where he was "shot twice and struck in the head and arm," his family said.

Lester faces two felony charges, according to Thompson. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said there was "a racial component to the case," while announcing charges related to the shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl.

The probable cause statement, however, doesn’t include a description of what the racial factors were, he said. 

Lester is an 84-year-old White man. Thompson had earlier said he was 85. Ralph is a Black teenage boy.

There is no indication that either Lester or Ralph spoke to one another before the shooting, he said. 

Thompson said there is no evidence to indicate Ralph crossed the threshold into the home, and that Lester shot at him through a glass door with a .32-caliber revolver. Police previously said Ralph went to the wrong house while trying to pick up his younger brothers.

The prosecuting attorney said he is not aware of any witnesses or video of the incident.

Andrew D. Lester was charged with two felony counts in the shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl, Clay County prosecuting attorney Zachary Thompson announced Monday.

The man faces one count of felony assault in the first degree and one count of armed criminal action, Thompson said.

A warrant was recently issued for Lester but he is not yet in custody, he said.

His bond was set at $200,000, according to Thompson.

Ralph Yarl (From GoFundMe)

Ralph Yarl's parents had asked him to pick up his siblings at an address in Kansas City, Missouri, but he accidentally went to a home on the wrong street, where he was shot, according to police.

A neighbor, who asked not to be identified, tells CNN she called 911 after the teen came to her door, bleeding. She was directed to stay inside her home by the emergency operator, for her safety as the shooter’s location was unknown.

“I wanted to help him, but they kept saying that we don’t know where the shooter is at,” the woman said.

She complied initially, then went outside with towels to help suppress the bleeding.

“I kneeled down next to him, and I said what’s your name… Who shot you?”

She said Ralph explained he “was supposed to pick up my brothers.”

While awaiting the ambulance, bleeding from injuries to the left side of his head and his right arm, the neighbor said Ralph told her he runs on the high school track team and plays the bass clarinet in band.

“He was very alert,” she said. “He is a very strong man. Very brave.”

Attorneys for the wounded youth’s family issued a statement demanding “swift action from Clay County prosecutors and law enforcement to identify, arrest and prosecute to the full extent of the law the man responsible for this horrendous and unjustifiable shooting.”

The teenager shot after going to the wrong house to pick up his siblings on Thursday is a section leader in a marching band and could often be found with a musical instrument in hand, said Faith Spoonmore, who identified herself as Ralph Yarl's aunt.

A GoFundMe started by Spoonmore to help the family raise money for medical expenses had garnered more than $1.5 million in donations by Monday afternoon.

Ralph had been looking forward to graduating from high school and visiting West Africa before starting college, his aunt wrote in the fundraiser.

Most recently, Ralph earned Missouri All-State Band honorable mention for playing the bass clarinet, according to a North Kansas City Schools’ newsletter in February. He also plays multiple instruments in the metropolitan youth orchestra, his aunt wrote.

He is a member of his school’s Technology Student Association and Science Olympiad Team and is a 2022 Missouri Scholars Academy alumni, she wrote.

“Last summer, Ralph attended Missouri Scholar’s Academy, where he got a full college life experience,” Spoonmore wrote. “His goal is to attend Texas A&M to major in chemical Engineering. When asked how he plans to get into this university, he said, ‘Well, if they have a scholarship for music or academics, I know I can get it.’ “

Dan Clemens, superintendent of North Kansas City Schools, released a statement saying Ralph is “an excellent student and talented musician”

“We are devastated to learn one of our students was involved in a horrific incident last week,” Clemens wrote. “Our thoughts are with the Yarl family, and I know I speak for all of us when we wish him a full and quick recovery. Ralph is an excellent student and talented musician. He maintains a stellar GPA while taking mostly college level courses. While he loves science and hopes to pursue that career path, his passion is music. Thankfully, we know he is now recovering alongside family.”

Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson  (Charlie Riedel/AP)

The Clay County prosecuting attorney Zachary Thompson held a news conference Monday to discuss the shooting of Ralph Yarl, the 16-year-old shot after going to the wrong house to pick up his brothers.

A White man in his 80s was booked on an investigation hold, police told CNN earlier. His home address matches the address where the shooting took place, police said.

Two representatives at the Kansas City Police Department detention unit also noted he was taken into custody on April 13 just before midnight and was released less than two hours later at 1:24 a.m. on April 14.

Property records, and a neighbor who spoke to CNN, confirmed the man and his wife are the homeowners living at the shooting location.

Officers responded to a home on Thursday, just before 10 p.m., after receiving reports of a shooting. When they arrived, they found Ralph who had been shot outside the residence by the homeowner.

Ralph was “shot twice and struck in the head and arm,” his family’s attorneys said in a statement.