A 17-year-old has been charges with attempted murder in relation to an armed robbery and shooting against an NFL player.
Ricky Pearsall, a rookie wide receiver who was drafted for the San Francisco 49ers this year, sustained a gunshot wound to the chest on Saturday August 31. Pearsall was only in the hospital overnight and, while expected to make a full recovery, will be on the sidelines for at least four weeks.
The shooter was a juvenile who was trying to rob the football player while yielding a firearm. Prosecutors have charged him with assault with a semi-automatic weapon, attempted second degree robbery, and attempted murder. According to Brooke Jenkins, the San Francisco District Attorney, the city is “traumatized” by the shooting and her office is responsible for ensuring that there is “accountability.”
The boy’s arraignment is scheduled for the afternoon of Wednesday September 4 and will take place at the city’s Youth Guidance Center. Police are still investigating the case and are currently seeking footage of every camera in Union Square that may have caught the incident on video, in the hopes of determining a timeline of events.
Erin Pearsall, the 23-year-old NFL player’s mother, shared on Facebook that her son “is extremely lucky” to have survived the shooting without serious injury. The San Francisco 49ers general manager, John Lynch, released a statement that the player is back with his team and “doing really well,” which he attributed to “the grace of God.”
Pearsall is said to have been making fast and “miraculous” improvement after the bullet went through his chest, avoiding damage to organs and nerves. The player was shopping for luggage to use on road trips to games, carrying shopping bags through Union Square, when he was shot in the attempted armed robbery.
Lynch added that, while he was in the hospital overnight, the team had a party in which Pearsall was able to partake virtually, via FaceTime. He described the comradery between team members as “a real special moment” that showcased their “love and respect” for one another.
