A teenager is facing an attempted homicide charge following the shooting of San Francisco 49ers’ newbie wide receiver, Ricky Pearsall, disclosed San Francisco’s District Attorney Brooke Jenkins on a Tuesday afternoon. The 17-year-old suspect’s indictment not only includes attempted murder, but he is also looking at accusations of second-degree robbery attempts and assault using a semi-automatic weapon. The suspect, tried in the juvenile court, is expected to attend a hearing on Wednesday.
While grappling with these charges, Pearsall is anticipated to be on the sidelines for at least the first quartet of NFL games this season due to the bullet wound to his chest sustained during a botched robbery attempt. Pearsall, a 23-year-old new recruit of the 49ers, found himself on the reserve/non-football injury roster on Monday, in sync with the week’s start leading to the inaugural regular-season faceoff against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.
The Saturday afternoon incident, which took place around 3:30 pm PT in San Francisco’s Union Square, stemmed from the teenager’s mugging attempt on Pearsall, eventually escalating to a brawl. The San Francisco Police Department reported that the physical tussle that ensued led to both Pearsall and the adolescent suspect getting shot by the latter’s firearm.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, police Chief William Scott reported that the officers on the scene provided medical assistance to both the wounded parties before they were transported to a nearby healthcare facility for more intensive medical attention. Soon after, the 49ers reported that Pearsall’s condition, though serious, was stable. By the subsequent Sunday, Pearsall had been discharged from the hospital.
The accused teenager hails from Tracy, California, and for the protection of his juvenile status, his identity has not been publicly revealed. Sharing her experience of attending to Pearsall at the crime scene, San Francisco Police Sgt. Joelle Harrell recounted her conversation with Pearsall. ‘He asked, ‘Am I gonna die?’ to which I responded, ‘Remember, you’re going to be fine. You’re strong, right? Be strong like you’re on the playing field’,’ she narrated.
The broad daylight crime at the commercial center of the city has cast a fresh light on the escalating crime in the city. Recognizing the severity and infrequency of such an episode in Union Square, Mayor London Breed referred to it as a ‘remarkable and dreadful incident.’ This popular public gathering point has seen an uptick in the coverage by police officers in recent times.
Mayor Breed expressed her disappointment regarding the setback that this incident poses to the extensive efforts undertaken in bettering public safety in San Francisco. She said, ‘This episode reverses some of the headway we’ve achieved through our relentless work in implementing significant changes to public safety in San Francisco.’
The motive behind the shooting is yet to be publicly announced by the police. However, Chief Scott clarified that there’s no evidence to imply that Pearsall, being a football player, was particularly targeted. The Chief also suggested that it appeared the suspect was acting solo, and the single weapon related to the incident has been secured by the police.
Pearsall’s mother, Erin, shared on social media that her son’s gunshot wound ran from the chest through to the back, thankfully bypassing critical organs. District Attorney Jenkins communicated her empathy for the Pearsall family, his team, and the significant trauma they have endured due to the incident.
District Attorney Jenkins further addressed the impact of such incidents on the community, stating, ‘I am well aware that such incidents traumatize the community of San Francisco. It’s essential and part of my duty, along with my office, to ensure accountability in this instance and work proactively to create a secure environment that prevents such occurrences in the future.’
Ricky Pearsall joined the NFL ring when San Francisco picked him as the 31st candidate in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft conducted earlier this year. His journey in football started in college, where he played for three years at Arizona State before spending a couple of seasons at Florida.
During his collegiate years, Pearsall’s performance had been impressive. He shone particularly bright in his final NCAA season, where he secured 965 receiving yards and notched up six touchdowns, all while playing for the Gators.
Unfortunately, Pearsall now adds to the list of NFL players who have experienced episodes of gun violence in the recent years. It’s a list that includes Houston Texans wide receiver, Tank Dell, who sustained minor injuries during a mass shooting incident in Sanford, Florida, in April.
In a similar incident about a couple of years prior, Brian Robinson Jr., then a rookie rusher for the Washington Commanders, was the victim of a double gunshot wound during an attempted armed robbery. The incident occurred mere weeks prior to the season’s kick-off, leading to him missing his first four games. Robinson, however, managed to make a comeback to the field.