KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Like Ralph Yarl’s parents, Patience Gaye moved to the United States from Liberia to escape violence before starting a family.
That was years ago. But on Sunday, she marched alongside at least 200 people in Kansas City’s Northland at a peaceful protest in support of Ralph, a 16-year-old who was shot and critically wounded Thursday after he went to the wrong house to pick up his younger twin brothers, according to family.
Ralph is a junior at Staley High School. Friends said he’s talked of going to Stanford after he graduates.
Gaye, 33, and a long-time family friend to Ralph’s parents, is pregnant with her first child, and filled with a new fear as she watches Ralph struggle to recover from his injuries.
“How do you protect a Black kid?” she asked. “ ... What are we supposed to do now? We left our countries because we don’t want to be killed. That’s why we left. They came to America for a better life. How is this a better life?”
Police Chief Stacey Graves said Sunday the police department is working to make sure the investigation moves as quickly as it can so the case can be presented to the Clay County prosecutor.
Police have not identified the person who shot Ralph or his race.
‘A stellar human-being’
Meara Mitchell, a teacher of Ralph’s for several years, called his shooting “incomprehensible.”
She described him Sunday as a “stellar human-being” with a “quiet fortitude.”
Of her many students, Ralph’s work ethic and love and kindness for others makes him stand out. He’s dutiful to his family, she said, and he impressed her every day in his academics and his interactions with his peers.
“He is the utmost example of how you want a young man to carry himself in this world,” she added.
Nicole Bryan, 17, and one of Ralph’s classmates and friends, said she met Ralph in seventh grade. They’re both in the band where he plays base clarinet and she plays bassoon.
When they first met, he corrected her on her instrument, and helped her become better. He still pushes her to achieve her best, Nicole said.
She said Ralph has talked about studying chemical engineering in college. He’s a whiz at science and math, but his passion is music, Nicole said. He’s won numerous awards for his academics and his musicianship, she said.
“He’s brilliant,” she said.
‘Justice is the key’
Paul Yaro, Ralph’s father, is quiet like his son. He stood near the back of the long line of people chanting about love and justice as they stood in the street in front of the yard of the man who allegedly shot Ralph.
“I’m just here to show my gratitude for all the love and support,” said Yaro, who traveled to Kansas City from Indianapolis after the shooting.
So many people showed up Sunday because, Yaro said, what happened was obviously wrong.
Ralph was asked by a parent to pick up his brothers from an address on 115th Terrace, according to the family and a statement from the Kansas City Police Department. Instead he went to a residence in the 1100 block of 115th Street.
Family said a man at the house opened the door, saw Ralph and shot him in the head. When Ralph fell to the ground, family said the man shot him again.
Ralph got up and ran from the property, but he had to ask at three different homes before someone helped him, family added. Kansas City police officers said they responded to the area around 10 p.m.
Graves said Sunday that the homeowner who allegedly shot Ralph after the teen arrived at the wrong house was taken into custody Thursday and placed on a 24-hour hold.
In order to arrest someone, Graves said law enforcement needs a formal victim statement, forensic evidence and other information for a case file to be completed. Because of the teen’s injuries, Graves said police haven’t been able to get a victim statement yet.
Yaro said he hasn’t had the chance to talk to the prosecutor’s office, but he is hoping for answers soon.
“Justice is the key. I guess the same reason why most people are here. Justice. Peace. I’m with them. I don’t want anything special. I just want justice.”
In the meantime, the family remains focused on Ralph’s healing.
Ralph’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore, started a GoFundMe on Sunday to raise money for Ralph’s medical bills and other expenses.
“Even though he is doing well physically, he has a long road ahead mentally and emotionally,” she wrote on the online fundraiser before joining Sunday’s protest.
The family will be represented by Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney who represented families in several high-profile cases including Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, as well as Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.
They also will be represented by Lee Merritt, a Texas-based civil rights attorney who has previously represented the family of Cameron Lamb, who was fatally shot by KCPD detective Eric DeValkenaere in 2019.
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