Ralph Yarl – update: Andrew Lester’s family ‘disgusted’ by shooting as stand your ground laws in spotlight

A GoFundMe campaign launched to support a Black teenager who was shot in the head by a white homeowner when he accidentally went to the wrong address has soared past $3.2m in donations.

Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old high school junior, was shot twice last Thursday when he went to pick up his younger twin brothers from a friend’s house on 13 April.

Donations have been flooding in on a GoFundMe campaign, set up to help pay for the boy’s recovery.

As of around 9am ET on Tuesday – just two days after its launch – a staggering $3.2m had been raised.

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In an update on Tuesday on the GoFundMe page, the family thanked people for their support and donations for the teenager and confirmed that he is now recovering from his injuries at home.

“Ralph is currently at home with the family. He can ambulate and communicate. A true miracle considering what he survived.Each day is different. He has a long road ahead,” the GoFundMe read.

“However, we are very thankful that he is still here with us. I’ve been taking the time to read the emails and comments to Ralph. It warms our hearts to see him smile at all the kind words. Thank you so much for loving Ralph.”

Suspect Andrew Lester is scheduled to be appear in court today for the shooting of Ralph Yarl.

The 84-year-old will appear for his arraignment at 1.30pm local time at Clay County Courthouse.

He is charged with two felonies over the shooting of the Black teen and faces up to life in prison.

As of 2pm ET, the GoFundMe organised to support the family of Ralph Yarl has raised more than $3.261m.

Andrew Lester, the 84-year-old white man accused of shooting Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager, has pleaded not guilty in court.

Mr Lester, 84, used a cane as he made his first court appearance on Wednesday afternoon, according to KCUR.

After he entered two not guilty pleas to first-degree assault and armed criminal action, the judge also set his next court date for 1 June at 1.30pm.

Mr Lester will remain out on bond but is banned from possessing any type of weapon, must have no contact with Ralph Yarl’s family and his cell phone will be monitored.

Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by three white men as he jogged through their neighbourhood in Georgia.

Now his mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, who is also represented by lawyer Lee Merritt, asked if he could organise a meeting so she could give her moral support to the Yarl family, according to TMZ.

Lee Merritt, the lawyer for Ralph Yarl’s family, told reporters outside Clay County Courthouse that the shooting was now being probed by the Justice Department as a hate crime.

“Before I even made it to Kansas City, we reached out to the Department of Justice, myself and my co-counsel Ben Crump, we have some longstanding relationships there,” Mr Merritt said, according to KCUR.

“We thought that this was something the DOJ should be looking into. They are (looking into it). It’s under investigation, they’ve received our complaint and now they’re looking into it.”

Mr Merritt was speaking after Andrew Lester pleaded not guilty to shooting the 16-year-old high school student.

“I want him to spend the rest of his life in prison,” Mr Merritt said. “All of his assets are going to become Ralph’s.”