Global Courant 2023-05-30 19:55:01
Kansas City, Mo. – Ralph Yarl – a black teenager who was shot in the head and arm after accidentally ringing the wrong door – walked to a brain injury awareness event in his first major public appearance since the shooting.
The 17-year-old suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was shot in April while trying to pick up his younger brothers. Kansas City Star reported.
Yarl ran Monday with family, friends and other brain injury survivors at Going the Distance for Brain Injury, an annual Memorial Day race at Loose Park in Kansas City, Missouri.
Ralph Yarl at a brain injury awareness event in Kansas City, Mo., on Monday.KSHB
“It takes a community. It takes a family. It takes a support group, all that,” Yarl’s mother, Cleo Nagbe, said ahead of the race, adding, “Let’s raise awareness to stop the things that cause brain injuries and shouldn’t, especially gun violence .
As many as 1,000 people ran through the park, including many in neon green T-shirts registering to be part of “Team Ralph,” said Robin Abramowitz, executive director of the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City.
“It’s important for Ralph to see that he’s not alone,” said Faith Spoonmore, Yarl’s aunt. She added that Yarl has debilitating migraines and balance issues. He also struggles with his emotions, mood swings and the trauma of the shooting.
Andrew Lester, an 84-year-old white man, is accused of shooting Yarl. The teen had confused Lester’s address with a house about a block away where he would pick up his siblings.
The shooting drew global attention and sparked rallies and protests in the Kansas City area, with critics saying Lester received preferential treatment when police released him just two hours after his arrest.
