Kansas City Teen Shooting Case Starts With Demands For Justice & Threats

A glimpse at today's courtroom conversation . . .

The family of Ralph Yarl, the Black 16-year-old who was allegedly shot by a white Northland man, is frustrated with delays and secrecy in the legal case.

About two dozen people showed up for a preliminary hearing Thursday for Andrew D. Lester, 84, who is charged with shooting Yarl, only to see it postponed until August 31. They wore T-shirts that read “Ringing a doorbell is not a crime.”

Ben Crump, another attorney for the family, said they feel they must push for justice and he wondered whether Thompson would treat a white child victim with the same lack of zeal he's applied to Yarl’s case.

“The whole world is watching Kansas City to see if there’s going to be accountability and justice for this teenage kid who merely rang the doorbell,” Crump said.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Ralph Yarl's family frustrated with delays, secrecy in case against 84-year-old Kansas City man

Yarl's family has little confidence in Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson, who they say failed to act aggressively from the beginning. "The whole world is watching Kansas City to see if there's going to be accountability and justice for this teenage kid who merely rang the doorbell."

Clay County prosecutor receives death threats, denies request for special prosecutor in Lester case

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The family of Ralph Yarl, the teenager who was shot twice after ringing the wrong doorbell at a Clay County house last month, asked Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson to step aside and allow a special prosecutor to handle the prosecution of the man charged in the case.

'The whole world is watching': Lawyers for Ralph Yarl criticize handling of court case

Family and attorneys of Ralph Yarl, a Kansas City teen shot after ringing the wrong doorbell this spring, believe the case is moving through Clay County court too slowly, and favors the man accused of shooting the Staley High School teen.

Ralph Yarl's lawyers, family express concern in Clay County Prosecuting Attorney's ability to handle case

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Ralph Yarl's attorneys are expressing doubt in Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson's ability to handle Andrew Lester's case. During a press conference on Thursday, attorneys Lee Merritt and Benjamin Crump discussed how confident they are that Ralph Yarl's family will get justice.

Developing . . .