Teen Ralph Yarl says he has moved past ‘hatred’ of shooter

Missouri teen Ralph Yarl, who was shot twice after ringing the wrong doorbell, says he’s “past any personal hatred” toward the shooter — but believes the man should face the consequences of his actions.

“I’m just a kid and not larger than life because this happened to me,” Yarl, 17, told Robin Roberts in an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that aired Tuesday.

“I’m just gonna keep doing all the stuff that makes me happy. And just living my life the best I can, and not let this bother me.”

Yarl, who was shot in the head and arm by 84-year-old Andrew Lester on April 13 after mistakenly going to the wrong house in his Kansas City neighborhood to pick up his younger siblings, said he is “past any personal hatred” toward Lester, but hopes he is held accountable for his actions.

“Justice is just the rule of the law, regardless of race, ethnicity and age,” Yarl said. “He should be convicted of the crimes.”

Yarl said he didn’t know his sibling’s friends or their parents and didn’t realize he was at the wrong address when he approached the door.

“I see this old man and I’m saying ‘Oh this must be their grandpa’ and then he pulls out his gun and I’m like woah. I back up. He points it at me so I kind of brace and turn my head,” Yarl said.

He recalled thinking at the time that there was no way Lester would shoot at him through the home’s glass door, which was shut.

“Then it happened,” Yarl said. “And then I’m on the ground. I fall on the glass. The shattered glass and then before I know it I’m running away shouting ‘Help me, help me!’”

Lester had said only a few words to him in the moments before shooting: “Don’t come here ever again,” the teen said.

Lester, who said he thought Yarl was a robber trying to break into his home, said he was “scared to death” of the then-16-year-old. He faces two felony charges in the shooting.

Yarl ran from Lester’s home, bleeding from his head and crying out for help as he banged on neighbors’ doors for help.

While he has recovered physically, the mental and emotional consequences linger.

He now says he suffers from headaches, trouble sleeping, and difficulty concentrating.

“You’re looking at a kid that took the SAT when he was in the eighth grade. And now his brain has slowed,” his mother Cleo Nagbe told Roberts. “Physically he looks fine, but there is a lot that has been taken from him.”

Lester faces one charge of felony assault in the first degree and another charge of armed criminal action.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains free from county jail after posting 10% of his $20,000 bond on the condition that he is not allowed to leave the state and surrender his passport and concealed carry permit.