Celebs lead outcry as boy shot in head after ringing wrong door to get siblings
Halle Berry has led the public outcry after a teenage boy going to pick up his siblings was shot in the head when he accidentally went to the wrong house.
The Oscar winning actress joined a growing number of celebrities calling for charges against a homeowner after Ralph Yarl, 16, was blasted in the head when he went to pick his siblings up at about 10pm in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday night.
Today it was confirmed the homeowner accused of shooting Yarl is an elderly white man in his 80s.
The teenager’s parents had asked him to pick up his siblings at an address on 115th Terrace, Kansas City. But the 16-year-old accidentally went to a home on 115th Street.
The teenager reportedly pulled into the driveway of the home on the night of April 13, rang the doorbell, and was immediately shot in the head by the resident.
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The severely wounded boy ran to three different houses looking for help and was rushed to hospital.
Ralph went to the wrong house on accident while trying to pick up his siblings (shaunking/Instagram)
Ralph Yarl with his siblingsMore than £1 million have been raised by a GoFundMe account to help Yarl and his family with the medical bills, as he remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition.
Although expected to recover he has suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the shooting.
Famous civil rights lawyers Lee Merritt and Benjamin Crump - who has worked on high-profile cases involving Black victims such as Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, George Floyd, Keenan Anderson and Tyre Nichols - have been retained by the victim and his family.
“Despite the severity of his injuries and the seriousness of his condition, Ralph is alive and recovering,” the attorneys said in the statement.
The person who fired the weapon was taken into custody and released 24 hours later.
Halle Berry's Instagram post calling for justiceA protest was organised in Kansas City on Sunday, with hundreds gathering outside the home where the boy was shot.
Now celebrities have added their voices to the growing number of people crying out for charges over the shooting.
Halle Berry, the star of such films as James Bond: Die Another Day and John Wick 3, took to Twitter to call for an "immediate arrest" and "appropriate charges".
It is hoped Ralph can recover (shaunking/Instagram)
Halle Berry led the outcry (Getty Images)She wrote: "His name is Ralph Yarl and I’m sick and tired of this feeling…my heart completely broke when I learned this precious 16-year-old, who accidentally rang the door of the wrong address in an attempt to pick up his siblings, was shot in the head by a man who didn’t want him on his property.
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"This innocent child is now fighting for his life. This could be your child.
Ralph Yarl was shot in the head after ringing the wrong doorbell (shaunking/Instagram)"This should NOT happen. Please do something today! Join me and please contact Prosecutor Zachary Thompson and demand an immediate arrest and bring the appropriate charges."
According to Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves, Missouri state law states a person can be held for a maximum of 24 hours for over a felony, then they have to be charged or released.
Naomi Campbell's Instagram post calling for justiceMs Graves said in a conference on Sunday that police are getting a formal statement from the victim and gathering additional forensic evidence.
Super model Naomi Campbell wrote a message on Instagram, saying: "Say his Name ,#RALPHYARL sadden and sick to my stomach , when will this STOP heartbreaking Beyond words innocent child , Son , brother precious 16-year-old, who accidentally rang the door of the wrong address in an attempt to pick up his siblings, was shot in the head by a man who didn’t want him on his property."
Jennifer Hudson's Instagram post calling for justiceFaith Spoonmore, Ralph's aunt has started a GoFundMe to help cover hospital expenses. She wrote that Ralph had to run to three houses after he was shot before someone helped him.
Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson wrote: "My God !!! Heartbroken for this young man and his family. Praying for his complete recovery !"
A template message calling for action over the shooting has gone viral being shared across social media platforms.
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