‘We walk for Ralph’: NKC students march in support of Ralph Yarl after shooting
Students draped in their school colors crowded in front of Staley High School Tuesday for a 1,500-person march to show solidarity for their 16-year-old classmate, who was shot in the head while ringing the doorbell of a Northland residence.
Ralph Yarl, 16, was released from the hospital just days after allegedly being shot twice by an 84-year-old man whose home he mistakenly approached Thursday to pick up his brothers.
The shooting garnered national attention following reports that Yarl, who is Black, was allegedly shot twice by the white homeowner, Andrew Lester, 84. Lester was initially released by Kansas City police last week shortly after being detained on suspicion of aggravated assault.
On Tuesday afternoon, Lester surrendered and was booked, nearly 24 hours after being charged with two felonies, first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He was soon released on bond.
Yarl’s classmates in the Black Student Union organized a walk to honor him as he continues on his “long road to recovery.”
The walk started at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the bus loop by the school’s student entrance, according to social media posts.
As more and more peers joined, the event turned into a sea of the school colors — black, green and blue — to honor Yarl. Many hoisted handmade signs proclaiming “We walk for Ralph.”Others carried signs that read, “We love you Ralph” and “Stop the hate!”
An estimated 1,500 students turned out, according to Susan Hiland, a spokeswoman for the North Kansas City School District.
Chants of “One Falcon, One Family” echoed throughout the crowd. Students also led cries of “Justice for Ralph,” pleading that law enforcement hold the 84-year-old accountable.
Superintendent Dan Clemens said earlier that the district was devastated to learn what happened to Yarl.
“Yarl is an excellent student and talented musician. He maintains a stellar GPA while taking mostly college level courses,” Clemens wrote in a statement Monday.
“While he loves science and hopes to pursue that career path, his passion is music. Thankfully, we know he is now recovering alongside family.”
Meara Mitchell, a former teacher of Yarl, called him “the utmost example of how you want a young man to carry himself in this world.”
The district said additional resources are available for students who need help at Staley High School this week.
‘Shocking, disgusting and horribly tragic’
Yarl’s shooting sent many of his Staley High School peers reeling, according to interviews with The Star over the weekend.
Savannah Mabery, 16, is in Yarl’s AP Government class. His brothers are in fifth grade, like hers, she said in a prior interview with The Star.
“He’s so smart. He’s really nice. He’s really quiet,” she said, describing the shooting as shocking, disgusting and horribly tragic.
”It’s literally 2023 and this is still happening. He just went to the wrong house and rang the doorbell,” Mabery said.
Another classmate, Jorge Sainz, 16, said the shooting left him feeling as if he had less freedom than he’d previously thought.
17-year-old Yorwin Deng, agreed, saying he doesn’t feel as safe in his neighborhood anymore. He told The Star that it’s hard to believe this happened to Yarl, who avoids conflict and “never looks for trouble.”
On a walk to a friend’s house after Yarl was shot, Deng made sure to pull his hood down.
“All he did was ring a doorbell,” said Sainz.
The Star’s Anna Spoerre contributed to this report.
This story was originally published April 18, 2023 at 5:37 PM.
