The grandson of Andrew Lester, the white Kansas City man who shot 16-year-old Ralph Yarl says he “wasn’t shocked” because Lester “holds racist tendencies.”
Source: Kansas City Police/Family / Family/Police
On Thursday, Klint Ludwig shared his feelings with CNN about his 84-year-old grandfather. Ludwig explained, “
The warning signs were there. I wasn’t shocked when I heard the news, I believe he held – holds – racist tendencies and beliefs.”
Klint Ludwig, the grandson of 84-year-old Andrew Lester, the man who shot 16-year-old #RalphYarl, is speaking out against his grandfather who he claims had been radicalized by racist conservative views.
Check out more of what he had to say 👇🏾
🎥: @CNN pic.twitter.com/X6jb7hVRHc
— REVOLT (@revolttv) April 20, 2023
However, his big brother Daniel disagrees, asserting race did not play a role in their grandfather’s shooting of Ralph at his front door.
Police arrested the shady shooter, but Lester is a free man after posting a $200,000 bond. He pleaded not guilty to 2 felony charges — armed criminal action and first-degree assault on Wednesday.
The trigger-happy elder will appear back in court on June 1.
The bass clarinetist has been released from the hospital, although his family, who describes Ralph as a “musical genius,” said he faces a long road to recovery.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says the shooting of Ralph Yarl shows the “fetishization of guns” and is an example of “this culture of paranoia and fear that’s being drummed up by politicians and some in the media”. (Video: CBS) pic.twitter.com/tLaMX6Na1o
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) April 23, 2023
Andrew Lester’s Ex-Wife And Grandson’s Speak Out About His
Daniel Ludwig believes his grandfather wouldn’t have fired his weapon at Ralph if he had not “gone for the door,” The Kansas City Star reported. Lester told the police he discharged his weapon when he saw the teen attempting to open the door by the handle, the probable cause document states.
The document also details Ralph’s account of never knocking on the door. The top bass Missouri clarinetist says he rang the doorbell and patiently waited before Lester appeared, immediately shooting him in the head.
As the talented musician lay helpless on the ground, his attacker fired another shot, landing in his arm.
The ex-wife of the homeowner accused of opening fire on Ralph Yarl who rang his doorbell by mistake is speaking out. Inside Edition’s @jimmoret sat down with Mary Clayton who was married to Andrew Lester for 14 years. pic.twitter.com/fFI7nLf0Mh
— Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) April 22, 2023
Although the Ludwig brothers share different opinions about their grandfather, they both say the incident was unfortunate.
“It’s just sad and I wish it didn’t happen,” Daniel Ludwig lamented to The Star. “It seems like a bunch of mistakes in a row that resulted in a tragedy. I mean, a lot of mistakes all the way around, unfortunately.”
Nothing says “complexion for protection” like calling that shooting an innocent, unarmed victim twice “a bunch of mistakes.”
I don’t care that Andrew Lester, the man who shot 16-yr-old Ralph Yarl is 84 yrs old. Just like I don’t care that Carolyn Bryant, the woman responsible for the death of 14-yr-old Emmitt Till, is 88.
Lock them BOTH up. Black children deserve justice. pic.twitter.com/370Ni83gw8
— Angel Jones, PhD (@AngelJonesPhD) April 17, 2023
His younger brother, Klint, vehemently condemned his grandad’s actions stating, “I was disgusted. I thought it was terrible. We – myself and my family – stand with Ralph Yarl in seeking justice”. He added, “This is a horrible tragedy that never should have happened.”
Klint said, “It’s the right thing to do” when asked why he is speaking publicly against his grandfather. “People get away with killing unarmed, innocent Black people.”
“People need to speak out,” he contended, “not make any excuses for this kind of behavior and this violence.”
An estimated 1500 students from Staley High School in Kansas City, Missouri took part in a march today for their schoolmate, Ralph Yarl, the 16-year-old who was shot after ringing the doorbell at the home of 84-year-old Andrew Lester.
🎥 @KSHB41 pic.twitter.com/YUJ4AbXj3k
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 18, 2023
According to Klint, Lester has a history of making disparaging racial comments about Black people. He claims the racist elder consumes a steady stream of “fear and paranoia” the right-wing media spews. The younger brother says this rhetoric often “blares in his living room” and “only reinforces this negative view of minority groups,” CNN reports.
Klint also revealed he and his grandfather drifted apart in recent years. They clashed over Lester’s conspiracy theories about the election and infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“He couldn’t handle being pushed back on, and at a certain point, we kind of lost touch,” Klint claims. “I think it was more of his choice than mine.”
Our prayers go out for Ralph’s continued recovery and, hopefully, a resounding return to his high school band.
