# The Shooting of Ralph Yarl in Kansas City (he knocked on the wrong door) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 17, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803 "2023-04-17T16:00:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/21 "2023-04-18T02:01:08Z")
Not to take anything away from the tragedy of Ralph Yarl, but a young white woman was killed Saturday in New York because she drove up the wrong driveway. > **[New York man charged with murder for opening fire on a car of young people](https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/17/new-york-man-open-fire-murder)** > > Kevin Monahan killed Kaylin Gillis, 20, who was in the vehicle with three friends and was searching for a friend’s home The common thread here seems to be guns. And paranoia. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/22 "2023-04-18T02:05:17Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > To some people, that’s not a bug, it’s a feature. Racist fear is the core of American gun culture. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/23 "2023-04-18T02:08:47Z")
The alleged shooter’s name is Andrew D. Lester. As of an hour or so ago, the only person with that name on Missouri Casenet had a divorce case from 1991, and that was it. Maybe it hasn’t been uploaded yet. If he was scared, why didn’t he just not open the door? Anyway, last I heard, the boy has been released from the hospital, which is very good news. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/24 "2023-04-18T02:08:54Z")
What the ever loving fuck is wrong with people? How tragic. Guns _are_ a common thread. Given that the defendant in the Ralph Yarl case admitted to police he shot because he was scared by the black teenager at his door, I think we have to consider these two cases to be different. Both tragic, but different. ---
**Author:** ![Cwturner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Cwturner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cwturner)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/25 "2023-04-18T02:18:15Z")
I havent heard anywhere what time od day this happened. Was it after dark? ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/26 "2023-04-18T02:21:16Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Racist fear is the core of American gun culture. Fear, period. I’ve seen Americans react with fear at the notion that someone might use their driveway to turn their car around on a narrow street. The notion that this is in some way threatening enough to justify violent action is just mind-boggling to me. If I heard someone pull into my driveway when I wasn’t expecting anyone, I’d be curious, and look outside to see what was going on, but I’d never start hallucinating about people maybe coming to kill me. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/27 "2023-04-18T11:29:16Z")
American gun culture is driven by sad little white men who have allowed their inadequacies to so completely overwhelm them that they are fine with thousands of dead kids a year if it means they can feel significant. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/28 "2023-04-18T18:41:23Z")
The shooter has surrendered to authorities. The poor kid tried to get help and was told to get on the ground with his arms out. What kind of neighbourhood is this? ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/29 "2023-04-18T18:50:14Z")
Probably one full of Blue Line flags and at least a smattering of Trump 2024 signs and Gadson Flags. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/30 "2023-04-18T18:51:51Z")
Here’s a story about the guy who ultimately helped Yarl. > **['He didn't deserve to get shot': Good Samaritan who helped Ralph Yarl found...](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/good-samaritan-helped-ralph-yarl-found-bloody-motionless-didnt-deserve-rcna80116)** > > James Lynch said his Eagle Scout training kicked in and he checked the teen's pulse and tried to stanch the blood in a neighbor's driveway before paramedics arrived. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/31 "2023-04-18T18:55:41Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > If he was scared, why didn’t he just not open the door? I don’t think he opened the door – I thought he shot Yarl through the window. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/32 "2023-04-18T19:09:30Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > His only thought was probably “This is my lucky day.” I think that’s very unlikely. I would guess the guy was terrified of the existence of a Black teenager on his door step. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/33 "2023-04-18T19:11:03Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Anyway, last I heard, the boy has been released from the hospital, which is very good news. I heard his mom is an RN, so he’s in good hands. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/34 "2023-04-18T19:48:55Z")
> [@Cwturner](#): > > I havent heard anywhere what time od day this happened. Was it after dark? Per the probable cause affidavit, police were dispatched at approximately 2152 hours, which is 9:52 pm. I’m guessing this happened about 9:45 at night. Per the statement of the shooter, he had just laid down to sleep when he heard the doorbell ring. The entrance has a main door and a glass storm door, and both were locked. When he opened the main door, he claims he saw the kid trying to open the storm door, and on that basis believed that the child was trying to break in (notwithstanding the fact that he had first rang the doorbell). He says no words were exchanged, but he shot through the glass door because he was afraid due to the kid’s age and size. Note that the man had a security camera system installed. He would almost certainly have seen the kid who was at his door before he opened it. (Yarl, for what it’s worth, said he didn’t try to open the door. He just rang the door and waited, and after a long time the door opened to the old man holding a gun. He also said that after he was shot the man told him “don’t come around here.”) … My grandmother, at the end of her life, used to put a chair under the door at night, because she was scared of break-ins. She also used to watch that show COPS all the time. I can only imagine the level of paranoia that infects a brain that is watching right wing news shows all day long. [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23782298-probable-cause-statement\_final\_20230418100906810](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23782298-probable-cause-statement_final_20230418100906810) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/35 "2023-04-18T20:54:21Z")
Similar tragedy. I can’t imagine why anyone would shoot at a car in their driveway. The level of fear and paranoia is off the charts. > **[Kaylin Gillis: Woman shot dead in New York state after friend pulled into...](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65307556)** > > Family remembers Kaylin Gillis as "beautiful soul and ray of light" who will be deeply missed. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/36 "2023-04-18T21:02:42Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > As I said above, we are fucked. Fear and hatred of the “other” appears to be the norm in parts of our country, if not everywhere in the U.S. Republicans, Fox and AM radio have been banging this drum for decades. Of course irrational fear has been normalized. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/37 "2023-04-18T21:25:47Z")
The right wing WABC radio station I listen to has a conspiracy theory about car companies getting rid of AM radios in cars. “They’re trying to silence us”. I don’t think they’re doing it for that reason… it’s just a positive benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/38 "2023-04-18T21:32:27Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Racist fear is the core of American gun culture Perpetuated over and over 24/7 by those over at Fox News. My brother and I had to talk our 80 something mother off a ledge every week to reassure her that the sky wasn’t falling, “they” aren’t coming to get you, and that it was safe to leave the house. Since she’s not tech savvy we were able to cut her cable subscription and get her back to local channels only. She’s been much happier and less paranoid ever since. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/39 "2023-04-18T21:47:07Z")
Yup, a bunch of scared little racists who are okay with a thousand black kids shot for knocking on the wrong door. I can’t imagine going through life that cowardly. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/40 "2023-04-18T22:03:18Z")
I took a black woman friend to find her cousin today to get some money. She wasn’t home so went to an apartment complex she works at. This part of the state is overwhelmingly white republican. She kept beating on the door when no one answered. I yelled from my truck “You’re gonna get shot”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803.md?page=3)