Neighbor recalls helping Ralph Yarl after shooting unfolded

8:10 p.m. | James Lynch helped Ralph Yarl in the moments after he was shot by Andrew Lester.

In an interview with NBC News, Lynch recalled helping Yarl.

6:25 p.m. | In their first statement since Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson announced charges against Andrew Lester, the two attorneys representing the family of Ralph Yarl released a statement saying they will continue to fight for the family while the 16-year-old recovers.

In the statement, the pair said that the Yarl family spoke via phone with President Biden Monday afternoon just moments before they learned of the charges in the case.

"Moments after the family got off the phone with President Biden, who offered his prayers for Ralph's health and for justice, we learned that the prosecutor will be charging the man who is responsible for the deplorable shooting of this innocent boy," attorneys Ben Crump and Lee Merritt wrote in the release. "Gun violence against unarmed Black individuals must stop. Our children should feel safe, not as though they are being hunted. While this is certainly a step in the right direction, we will continue to fight for Ralph while he works toward a full recovery."

5:10 p.m. | Clay County prosecutors announced 84-year-old Andrew Lester has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in shooting of Ralph Yarl.

In a press conference, Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson said there was a "racial component" to the case, but couldn't immediately elaborate.

Lester faces up to life in prison for the first-degree assault charge, a class A felony.

For the armed criminal action charged, Lester faces up to 3 to 15 years in prison.

Thompson said a warrant was issued for Lester, but he wasn't immediately in custody.

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

5 p.m. | Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson is speaking with reporters after receiving the case file in the Ralph Yarl shooting.

Watch below:

4:15 p.m. | The Clay County Prosecuting Attorney's Office confirmed that it has received a referral for possible charges in the shooting of a 16-year-old Staley High School student, Ralph Yarl, from the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.

Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson has called a press conference for 5 p.m. Monday at the Clay County Courthouse.

4:00 p.m. | Kansas City, Missouri, police have forwarded their investigation into the April 13 shooting of 16-year-old Staley High School junior Ralph Yarl to prosecutors.

KCPD said via Twitter shortly before 4 p.m. on Monday that "the investigative case file involving the April 13th shooting on NE 115th Street has been submitted to the Clay County Prosecutor's Office for their review for charges."

Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson's office had yet to confirm whether it has received the file and does not ensure that charges will be filed, but if is the first step before prosecutors could consider charges.

Yarl was shot when he went to the wrong house to pick up his younger siblings — 11-year-old twins, according to NBC. He went to a home on Northeast 115th Street instead of Northeast 115th Terrace.

The resident who shot Yarl twice, once in the head and once in the arm, has yet to be identified by police or prosecutors.

3:21 p.m. | Lee Merritt, the attorney for the family of Ralph Yarl, tells NBC News Monday that Yarl is out of the hospital and is recovering at home.

3:00 p.m. | Vice President Kamala Harris has tweeted out her support and that she and Second Gentlemen Doug Emhoff are praying for Yarl and his family.

2:30 p.m. | A neighbor went on a KMBZ-FM radio show Monday to describe his experience helping Yarl.

The neighbor, James Lynch, told host Dana Wright of the Dana and Parks Show that he was out back of his house for a smoke when he heard someone yell "Help me. Help me. I've been shot."

Lynch, who was 250 to 300 feet away, then saw Yarl stumble from the home and lay on the street. At first Yarl was motionless and devoid of any movement. Lynch said he was concerned that he had run to somebody who had passed away.

But luckily, Yarl started to show movement and tried to lift his head up, but Lynch told him to keep it down. Lynch said Yarl was responsive to questions immediately and didn't seem to struggle for words at all.

Lynch said that he did not hear the shots or any disturbance prior to hearing Yarl yell for help.

2:10 p.m. | During a virtual press conference Monday, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was asked about the shooting of Staley junior Ralph Yarl, the 16-year-old who was shot twice last week after he mistakenly went to the wrong house to pick up his younger siblings.

“First off, I just want to say my prayers and support are for Ralph and his recovery," Mahomes said. "You never want these situations to happen, but especially from the details I have on it, it never should have happened.”

Mahomes later added that he hopes "the justice system does right by him and everyone involved, and we’re not having to have these conversations and we’re able to hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.”

1:43 p.m. | Singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake joined people from around the nation in speaking out on the weight the shooting carries.

"This can’t be it," Timberlake said in a tweet.

University of Missouri head football coach Eliah Drinkwitz also shared the pain he is feeling for Yarl.

"My heart and soul is heavy with the story of Ralph Yarl," Drinkwitz said. "Please join in praying for Ralph’s recovery."

MU basketball player Aidan Shaw described what happened to Yarl as "unacceptable" and said the community needs to bring awareness and demand action.

"I am from the KC metro and this could be me picking up my little brother," he said.

12:45 p.m. | Several local and national groups are planning a rally for 4 p.m. Tuesday outside of the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department regarding the shooting case of Ralph Yarl.

Organized by The People's Coalition, the protest is scheduled to include family attorney Lee Merritt, the Greater Kansas City Urban League, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Missouri chapter of the NAACP and Urban Summit.

Noon | As news spread Sunday of the details of Ralph Yarl, the teen that was shot last Thursday night, one of the most-shared images was Yarl holding a musical instrument on stage.

The Northland Symphony Orchestra posted Sunday night that Yarl is an active member of the orchestra "as a talented and dedicated clarinetist and bass clarinetist."

"We are outraged and disturbed by this senseless act of violence, which not only affected Ralph, but also the entire community."

11:45 a.m. | A GoFundMe page set up by Yarl’s aunt on Sunday morning exceeded $1 million in donations by mid-morning Monday.

By noon, the fundraiser approached nearly $1.3 million in donations.

11:30 a.m. | Among those reacting to Yarl’s shooting are his classmates at Staley High School.

The high school is part of the North Kansas City School District, the largest district on the Missouri-side of the Kansas City area.

District Superintendent Dr. Daniel Clemens posted a statement on social media Monday morning.

“Last Thursday evening, a young man went to pick up his siblings in a neighborhood near 169 and NE Cookingham Road. After mistakenly arriving at the wrong address, he was shot by the homeowner,” Clemens wrote. “His name is Ralph Yarl, and he is an excellent student and talented musician who attends Staley High School. Ralph’s younger siblings also attend an elementary school in our district.”

You can read more of Clemens’ statement online.

10:30 a.m. | Civil Rights attorney Benjamin Crump appeared on CNN this morning to discuss the Yarl case.

Crump’s office announced earlier this morning that Yarl’s family had retained the legal services of Crump and fellow civil rights attorney Lee Merritt in the case.

The pair issued a joint statement.

“We demand swift action from Clay County prosecutors and law enforcement to identify, arrest, and prosecutors to the full extent of the law the man responsible for this horrendous and unjustifiable shooting.”

The pair's involvement in the case is in addition to reaction from local and national officials to the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

ORIGINAL REPORT | News of last Thursday night’s shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl continued to generate reaction and calls to action Monday.

Earlier Monday morning, the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office said it was gearing up for a speedy review of any possible charges against the shooter once the office receives the case from the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.

On Sunday, members of Yarl’s family joined with the community for a rally and protest in the neighborhood where Yarl was shot last Thursday night.

Sunday also included a brief update from KCPD Chief of Police Stacey Graves and Mayor Quinton Lucas, who both acknowledged the interest in the case and pledged that investigators continued to work the case.

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