An 86-year-old Missouri man passed away shortly after pleading guilty to a lesser charge in the 2023 shooting of a Black honor student who mistakenly rang his doorbell, prosecutors revealed on Wednesday. The man, identified as Andrew Lester of Kansas City, had been facing charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the shooting of the then-16-year-old student, who survived the incident and is now a freshman at Texas A&M University.
Before his trial was set to commence, Lester opted to plead guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree assault, which carries a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison. His sentencing was scheduled for March 7, but his attorney informed the Clay County prosecutor's office of his passing.
