“I can tell you there was a racial component to this case,” Thompson said at a news conference without elaborating.
There is no indication that Lester or Ralph spoke to one another before the Thursday evening shooting, Thompson said.
Thompson originally said Lester was 85 years old but a probable cause document obtained by CNN shows he is 84.
Police and Ralph’s family have said he went to the wrong address, mistaking 115th Terrace for 115th Street.
“I mean, this citizen went home and slept in his bed at night after shooting that young Black kid in the head.”.
Dan Clemens, superintendent of North Kansas City Schools, released a statement saying Ralph is “an excellent student and talented musician”.
“We figured out then he went to the wrong street, which is no excuse for what happened,” she said. »