A teenage suspect in the shooting of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic weapon, and attempted second-degree robbery, according to a statement from San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. The minor is set to be arraigned on Wednesday at the Juvenile Justice Center.
While state law prevents Jenkins from charging the teen as an adult, she mentioned that if the investigation suggests the suspect should be tried in adult court, she will seek a judge’s ruling to transfer the case. Jenkins noted it’s too early to make that determination.
Pearsall, 23, was walking to his car around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday after shopping in Union Square when the teenage suspect targeted him for his expensive watch, according to San Francisco Police Sgt. Frank Harrell. A struggle ensued, and both Pearsall and the 17-year-old suspect were shot, with Pearsall being struck through the chest.
Pearsall’s mother, Erin, shared that the bullet passed through the right side of his chest and exited through his back without hitting vital organs. Released from San Francisco General Hospital on Sunday, Pearsall returned to the team facility on Monday, said 49ers General Manager John Lynch. The team placed Pearsall on the non-football injury list to allow him to recover from both the shooting and a shoulder injury that had affected him throughout the summer.
The condition of the suspect, who was also treated at the same hospital, remains undisclosed. Police reported that the suspect, a resident of Tracy, was arrested a block away from the scene.
Lynch expressed gratitude to San Francisco Sgt. Joelle Harrell, who was the first officer on the scene and provided immediate aid to Pearsall. Using Pearsall’s shirt and her baseball cap, she applied pressure to his wounds and kept him calm as he asked if he was going to die.
Lynch highlighted Pearsall’s remarkable recovery, noting, “He’s doing so much better today than he was yesterday—just really, really miraculous.”
Pearsall, a Florida wide receiver, was the 31st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the 49ers, who are set to open their season on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets.