In his first public statement since the April 13 shooting, Ralph Yarl, the Kansas City teenager shot after mistakenly going to the wrong address, detailed the terrifying encounter. Speaking on ABC’s "Good Morning America," Yarl, now 17, described approaching the home of 84-year-old Andrew Lester, noting the presence of security cameras.

Yarl explained his confusion, believing he was at the correct residence to pick up his younger brothers. He intended to go to N.E. 115th Terrace but mistakenly arrived at N.E. 115th Street, just one block away.

Yarl recounted waiting on the porch, then seeing an older man open the door and pull out a gun. Backing away, Yarl was shot, falling onto shattered glass. He then fled, crying for help.

The teen recalled Lester uttering only five words: "Don’t come here ever again." Yarl emphasized that he had never encountered Lester before. Lester has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. He claims he shot Yarl out of fear of being robbed.

The incident sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice, with figures like President Biden and various celebrities weighing in. Yarl’s attorney is pursuing a hate crime investigation.

Yarl's mother, Cleo Nagbe, described the agonizing experience of learning about the shooting and rushing to the hospital. Ten weeks later, Yarl is on the road to recovery, grappling with lingering physical and cognitive challenges like headaches, sleep difficulties, and mental fog.

Nagbe expressed concern about the impact on her son's academic abilities, noting a decline in his cognitive sharpness. Yarl is currently undergoing therapy and aims to continue his recovery by pursuing his interests in chemical engineering and music. He expressed a desire to move forward and not let the traumatic event define him.