On Tuesday morning, a group of Staley High School students demonstrated their support for their fellow student Ralph Yarl, who had been shot by a homeowner in Kansas City. Andrew D. Lester, the man accused of shooting Ralph, turned himself in later that day, having been charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action. However, the shooting continued to unsettle residents of Kansas City, with some questioning why Lester had been released from police custody without charge, and others suggesting that federal hate crime charges should be brought. With gun violence becoming increasingly prevalent in America, the shooting has become another shocking example of an ordinary interaction turning violent.

At a gathering in downtown Kansas City, Karen Allman, a neighbor of Mr. Lester, expressed some satisfaction that he had turned himself in. Still, she remained upset over the shooting and the fact that he was not charged until several days after the incident. Many residents felt that if the homeowner had been black and the victim white, the homeowner would have been kept in jail until charges were pressed.

Although Ralph had been sent to pick up his younger siblings when the shooting occurred, he was expected to make a full recovery after undergoing surgery to remove the bullets. The police have released new details of their investigation, but there was little disagreement over what had happened. Ralph had made an error and rang the wrong doorbell, which caused the elderly homeowner to become afraid and shoot him. While Mr. Lester claimed he was “scared to death” and saw a black male “pulling on the exterior storm door handle,” Ralph maintains that he only rang the doorbell and did not pull on the door.

In a country plagued by gun violence, this incident highlights how an ordinary mistake can lead to a life-threatening situation. The shooting of Ralph has caused shock and concern among residents of Kansas City, and many are now calling for stricter gun control laws.