Kansas City Homeowner Pleads Not Guilty to Assault in Shooting of Teen

Kansas City Homeowner Pleads Not Guilty to Assault in Shooting of Teen
Andrew Lester arrives for his initial court appearance before Judge Louis Angles in Kansas City, Mo., on April 19, 2023 in a still image from video. Pool TV via Reuters
Reuters
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LIBERTY, Missouri—An 84-year-old white man charged in the shooting and wounding of a black teenager who mistakenly walked up to the man’s house in Kansas City pleaded not guilty to felony charges on Wednesday during his first court appearance in the case.

Andrew Lester would face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of first-degree assault, as charged, for shooting Ralph Yarl, 16, on the doorstep of his suburban home last Thursday night. He also was charged with armed criminal action, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.