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A black teenager was shot in the head after he rang the wrong doorbell while trying to pick up his siblings at a home in Kansas City, Missouri on Thursday night, cops said.
Ralph Yarl, 16, was scheduled to pick the siblings up at around 10:30 p.m. on N.E. 115th Terrace – but the teen mistakenly went to N.E. 115th Street and was met at the door with gunshots, according to Kansas City police.
Yarl suffered life-threatening injuries from the gunshots and was rushed to a hospital where he was recovering on Sunday night.
The homeowner, who fired the weapon, was taken into custody and released after 24 hours.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said the Clay County prosecutor’s office is prepared to take over the case as cops collect evidence.
“We recognize the frustration this can cause with the entire criminal justice process,” Graves said.
“As soon as the case is complete, it will be presented to the Clay County prosecutors for their review.”
The shooting was officially listed as a case of mistaken identity.
Graves said that forensic evidence and a victim statement would be needed before the case is complete.
Yarl’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore, said the teen had intended to go to a home just one block away.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the case was getting “the full attention of the Kansas City Police Department.”
“This is not something that has been dismissed, marginalized or diminished in any way,” Lucas added.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump told the Kansas City Star that the homeowner should be charged.
“You can’t just shoot people without having justification when somebody comes knocking on your door and knocking on your door is not justification,” Crump said.
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