Ralph Yarl: a man who shot a young man who knocked on his door by mistake is accused of 2 crimes in a case that overwhelms the United States.

A new gun-related case sparked outrage in the United States.

Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old African-American boy, was going to pick up his younger siblings in a neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, when he knocked on the wrong door.

The property owner shot him twice – in the head and in the arm – and the teenager managed to go and ask for help himself. Yarl was hospitalized in serious condition, but has since been released and is recovering at home.

The event occurred on Thursday night, and this Monday the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office, to which Kansas City belongs, formally charged Andrew Lester, 84, with two crimes: first degree assault and armed criminal action.

Prosecutor Zachary Thompson declared at a press conference that there was a “racial component” in the shooting.

“My message to the community is that in Clay County, we enforce the laws and we follow the laws,” Thompson said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you look like, or how much money you have.”

Lester, who has not been charged with a hate crime, has a warrant out for his arrest, although it has not been confirmed that he is in custody.

The released documents also do not describe the racial bias attack.

According to prosecutors, no words were exchanged before the owner of the house opened fire 32 caliber revolver.

For this reason, the police detained Lester the same Thursday for questioning, but let him go after a short time, which sparked protests this Sunday throughout the city.

This Monday, the protesters gathered in front of the suspect’s house shouting “black lives are under attack” and “get up, fight,” according to a video posted on social networks. Apparently, Lester’s house has also been vandalized.

Attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents the Yarl family, has stated: “you can’t shoot people without having a justification when someone knocks on your door. Knocking on your door is not an excuse.”

Ralph’s family said the teen was going to pick up his younger brothers, who are twins, from a friend’s house around 10 p.m. local time on April 13 when he knocked on Lester’s door.

According to the family’s account, the boy mistakenly went to 115th Street instead of 115 Terrace and rang the bell twice.

After being shot, he passed three houses before someone helped him, they added.

“He heard murmurs in the house and finally the door opened,” attorney Lee Merritt told NBC News. “And she was confronted by a man who told her: ‘Don’t come back here’and then immediately fired his gun.”

Lester told police that he believed someone was breaking into his home and fired two shots through his door. A witness also told the local news station that he heard Ralph “scream that he was shot.”

Prosecutors said Monday that Missouri citizens have the right to use force if they “reasonably” fear they are in danger, but declined to elaborate on the ins and outs of this case.

This Sunday, Ralph was released from the hospital. Although he continues to rest in his house, where a slow recovery awaits him, his relatives said.

The young man’s father, Paul Yarl, told the outlet Kansas City Star that the accusation is “a great relief”. “I’m happy. This is what we’ve been looking for. It’s here.”

According to the family’s lawyers,the president of the USA, Joe Biden, called the Yarls on Monday and talked to them for 20 minutes. The president invited the young man to the White House once he recovers.

Recognized personalities such as Viola Davis, Justin Timberlake, Halle Berry and Kerry Washington condemned the shooting. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe account, set up to pay for Ralph’s medical recovery, has raised more of US$2.1 million.

Remember that you can receive notifications from BBC Mundo. Download the new version of our app and activate them so you don’t miss out on our best content.