KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The defense attorney representing Andrew Lester, the Kansas City resident charged in the shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl on his doorstep in April, asked a Clay County judge to grant a protective order Monday as the 84-year-old continues to face harassment and fears for his well-being.
The attorney, Stephen Salmon, appeared in court on Lester’s behalf to argue an earlier motion that case information should be sealed. He said there has been a “firestorm of inaccurate information” and mass speculation about Lester, saying his client’s right to a fair trial could be compromised otherwise.
Lester did not appear in court Monday. Salmon said Lester has faced health concerns, including a substantial loss of weight — about 40 pounds — since he was charged by prosecutors with two felonies in April.
Salmon contends the news media and some politicians have distorted the facts of the case, casting Lester as racist without evidence. He noted prosecutors did not charge Lester with a crime alleging racial motivation in the shooting of Yarl.
The case has caught international attention in recent weeks as Yarl, who is Black, was shot in the head and arm while trying to pick up his younger siblings.
The 16-year-old was shot twice outside Lester’s home after mistakenly ringing his doorbell. He later told police he was shot immediately after Lester opened the door, and he overheard the 84-year-old say: “Don’t come around here.”
During his interview with police, Lester accused Yarl of pulling his door handle — an account that is disputed by Yarl and his family — and said he shot him because he was “scared to death” of the tall, Black stranger at his door.
Activists, politicians and family of the 16-year-old have pointed to the case as one of “ringing a doorbell while Black.” It has sparked conversations about racism, both explicit and implicit, and gun rights in the U.S. Civil rights attorneys hired by Yarl’s family have, along with others, called for Lester to be charged with a hate crime.
Outlining his argument Monday, Salmon said the “scant” amount of public information has already led to widespread speculation about Lester that is incorrect. He noted celebrities and politicians, including President Joe Biden, have offered input on the shooting in the public space.
Because of the high level of attention, Salmon says Lester has been subjected to threats and intimidation.
Examples of that include Lester being forced to relocate three times out of safety concern, Salmon said, and Lester’s wife needing to change nursing homes. His home was also defaced with graffiti.
Meanwhile, Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said in court that the public should be given an explanation of any decision to limit the amount of information disclosed. Prosecutors have not objected outright to a protective order, though Thompson said Monday: “Justice should not only be done but be shown to be done.”
Should the court decide to seal the case, Thompson requested a court order that outlines the reasoning behind the decision.
Clay County Judge Louis Angles, who is overseeing the criminal case, did not issue a ruling on the matter Monday. He said he would consider the arguments, along with four exhibits submitted by the defense, before reaching a decision.
Among the questions Angles asked in court Monday was how sealing of case information would actually reduce public speculation about the case, and whether some of the remedies sought by Lester could be accomplished through redactions.
Lester is scheduled to appear in court next on June 1.
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(The Star’s Luke Nozicka contributed to this report.)
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