Black teen Ralph Yarl shot in head after ringing wrong doorbell while trying to pick up siblings

The family of a black teenager who was shot in the head after ringing the wrong doorbell want the gunman to be charged.

Kansas City teenager Ralph Yarl was shot in the head after ringing the wrong doorbell while trying to pick up his siblings, according to police.

A black teenager was shot in the head after he rang the wrong doorbell while trying to pick up his siblings at a home in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday night, police have said.

Ralph Yarl, 16, was scheduled to pick the siblings up at around 10.30pm but mistakenly went to the wrong door and was met with gunshots, according to Kansas City police.

Mr Yarl suffered life-threatening injuries from the gunshots and was rushed to a hospital where he was recovering on Sunday night.

Yarl suffered life-threatening injuries and is recovering at a hospital.

The homeowner, who fired the weapon, was taken into custody and released after 24 hours.

Kansas City Police chief Stacey Graves said the Clay County prosecutor’s office was prepared to take over the case as cops collect evidence.

“We recognise the frustration this can cause with the entire criminal justice process,” Ms Graves said. “As soon as the case is complete, it will be presented to the Clay County prosecutors for their review.”

The homeowner who shot Yarl was taken into police custody and released 24 hours later.

The shooting was officially listed as a case of mistaken identity.

Ms Graves said that forensic evidence and a victim statement would be needed before the case was complete.

Yarl’s aunt, Faith Spoonmore, said the teen had intended to go to a home just one block away.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the case was getting “the full attention of the Kansas City Police department”.

The Kansas City teenager was shot in the head after ringing the wrong doorbell while trying to pick up his siblings, according to police.

“This is not something that has been dismissed, marginalised or diminished in any way,” Mayor Lucas added.

Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump told the Kansas City Star that the homeowner should be charged.

“You can’t just shoot people without having justification when somebody comes knocking on your door and knocking on your door is not justification,” Mr Crump said.

This article originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission