An 84 year-old man has been charged in Clay County for the shooting of Ralph Yarl on Monday, April 17. Clay County prosecutor Zach Thompson charged Andrew Lester with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

According to statements Yarl was at Lester’s house to pick up siblings late on Thursday night, however Yarl mistakenly went to Lester’s home at NE 115th Terrace instead of NE 115th Street. Thompson said that the statements indicated that Yarl was shot through a glass door with a .32 caliber revolver.

Police officials investigating the incident found broken glass on the storm door and blood on the porch and street. When police took Lester into custody, he told them that he had gone to bed when his doorbell rang, so picked up his revolver and went to the front door. He said he thought the man at the door was trying to break into his house.

Lester also told police that he fired two shots and saw the man run away. Lester called 911 to report the incident. According to Lester there were no words exchanged between him and the person at the door.

Lester stated to police, “it was the last thing he wanted to do, but was ‘scared to death’ due to the male’s size and Lester’s age (84) and inability to defend himself.”

In the court statements Yarl stated he went to the wrong address to pick up his brothers. After he rang the doorbell, a man with a gun opened the door. Yarl was shot once in the head and once in the arm. Yarl said the man in the home said, “Don’t come around here.” Yarl also told police he went to other homes asking for help.

In a press conference at 5 pm on Monday, Thompson said an arrest warrant has been issued for Lester.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story