Kansas
Kansas City retiree who shot Ralph Yarl, Black teen who mistakenly rang his doorbell, pleads guilty to lesser charge
An 86-year-old Kansas City man pleaded guilty Friday to a lesser charge in the 2023 shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black honor student who rang his doorbell by mistake.
Andrew Lester, who is White, was scheduled to stand trial next week on charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shooting of the then-16-year-old, who survived and has since graduated from high school.
As part of a plea deal, Lester pleaded guilty to second-degree assault. Lester, who will be sentenced on March 7, was hunched over as he was wheeled into the courtroom, his hands folded.
The charge carries a sentence of up to seven years in prison, compared to first-degree assault, which carries a sentence of 15 to 30 years, depending on the circumstances. One of the key elements of second-degree assault is that defendants “have the burden of injecting the issue of influence of sudden passion arising from adequate cause.”
“This is probably perceived as some middle ground, and the heat of passion would be what was the motivation for the shooting,” said J.R. Hobbs, a Kansas City defense attorney who is not involved in the case. “If he was afraid or whatever, it may not rise to a full defense. The parties might agree to that because on one hand, it’s a felony conviction — no trial, no possible appeal. On the other hand, with a lesser statutory limit, the defendant’s exposure is less as well.”
Yarl showed up on Lester’s doorstep on the night of April 13, 2023, after he mixed up the streets where he was supposed to pick up his twin siblings.
Lester’s attorney, Steve Salmon, has long argued that Lester was acting in self-defense and that he was terrified by the stranger who knocked on his door as he settled into bed. Authorities say Lester shot Yarl twice: first in the head, then in the arm.
The shooting shocked the country and renewed national debate about gun policies and race in the U.S.
Yarl testified at an earlier hearing that he rang the bell and then waited for someone to answer for what seemed “longer than normal.” As the inner door opened, Yarl said, he reached out to grab the storm door.
“I assume these are my brothers’ friends’ parents,” he said.
He said Lester shot him in the head and uttered, “Don’t come here ever again.” Although the bullet didn’t penetrate Yarl’s brain, the impact knocked him to the ground. Yarl said Lester then shot him in the arm. The teen was taken to the hospital and released three days later.
His family said the shooting took a big emotional toll and they have filed a lawsuit against the retired aircraft mechanic.
Salmon said last year that Lester’s physical and mental condition had deteriorated. He said Lester has had heart issues, a broken hip and has been hospitalized. Lester also has lost 50 pounds (23 kilograms), which Salmon blamed on the stress of intense media coverage and death threats he subsequently received.
A judge had previously ordered a mental evaluation of Lester but allowed for the trial to proceed after its completion. The results of that evaluation were not released publicly.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — An interchange in Wichita is the most stressful off-ramp in Kansas, according to the results of a new poll.
The poll, by personal injury law firm Regan Zambri Long, asked 3,011 drivers across the United States what off-ramps are the most stressful.
Based on their results, Interstate 135 Exit 5B to Kellogg Avenue took the top spot in Kansas.
The poll said traffic often slows down at this interchange because it is where two major routes meet. Exiting vehicles have to merge and prepare for nearby exits on Kellogg, making speeds fluctuate.
Second place was Interstate 70 Exit 356 to Wanamaker Road in Topeka, and the third-most stressful off-ramp is Interstate 35 Exit 220 to 119th Street in Overland Park.
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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Jalisco Restaurant has been a staple in the Kansas City, Kansas, community since 1965. But after 61 years, the restaurant is closing its doors.
A sign posted on the restaurant at North 50th Street and State Avenue on Monday said:
Jalisco Restaurant will permanently close at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, May 30, 2026. Thank you for your patronage. Remember us, we will never forget you. The Hernandez Family.
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Jalisco Restaurant in Kansas City, Kansas, is closing its doors on May 30, 2026, after 61 years. (FOX4 Photo/Brian Dulle) -
Jalisco Restaurant in Kansas City, Kansas, is closing its doors on May 30, 2026, after 61 years. (FOX4 Photo/Brian Dulle)
Erika Dominguez, an employee at Jalisco’s, told FOX4 that one of their cooks, who has been there for more than 40 years, is retiring. One of the other cooks is 90, and has been with the family since the beginning.
“The family is getting older, and it is time,” she added.
“Our wall tells the story of generations of families and Jalisco’s little angels, babies who grew up coming through our doors,” Dominguez said in a social media post earlier this year.
The Hernandez family also owned another Jalisco’s Restaurant location in KCK’s Argentine neighborhood for 48 years. That location closed in 2012. They also owned a location in Mission, Kansas, years ago.
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Jalisco Restaurant location in Kansas City, Kansas’ Argentine neighborhood. This location closed in 2012. (FOX4 Photo/Brian Dulle)
Dominguez said the building at North 50th Street and State Avenue is for sale, and there’s also been talk about the family leasing it – but nothing is in the works at this time.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A child is dead after being struck by an Amazon delivery vehicle Monday night in Kansas City.
The Kansas City Police Department responded to the incident just before 6:30 p.m. in the area of East Missouri Avenue and Lexington Avenue in Kansas City’s Historic Northeast neighborhood.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a marked Amazon delivery vehicle had just completed a package delivery in the area. Police said after the delivery, the driver of the vehicle began traveling westbound on East 3rd Terrace toward Woodland Avenue.
Police said at the same time, a child, under the age of 5, was playing in a grassy area of a nearby public park. The child entered the roadway and was struck by the Amazon delivery vehicle.
The Amazon driver initially stopped at the scene but left before officers arrived, according to police.
Police said a family member attempted to follow the Amazon vehicle and inform the driver of what had happened. The driver denied involvement and left the area.
The child was pronounced dead as a result of the injuries, according to police.
Kansas City police said the investigation remains active and ongoing.
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