The California teen accused of shooting 49ers rookie wide receiver and first-round pick Ricky Pearsall in a botched robbery in San Francisco on Saturday has been charged with attempted murder.
The 17-year-old, who remains unidentified, has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, and attempted robbery, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Tuesday night.
Jenkins said the charges would be filed in juvenile court, and the suspect is expected to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall during training camp at SAP Performance Facility on July 31, 2024, in Santa Clara. Getty Images
“No longer under California law can a district attorney choose to file those charges against a minor in adult court,” Jenkins said.
“The only mechanism for that is to request a transfer hearing, which requires that a judge rule on the minor’s fitness to be transferred to adult court, which essentially means that the juvenile system would not be equipped to rehabilitate that minor. “
Jenkins said her office will “review the case more closely to determine whether or not we will seek that fitness hearing.”
Pearsall, 23, was shot in the chest by the 17-year-old gunman, who tried to steal Pearsall’s Rolex watch at about 3:30 p.m. PT Saturday in San Francisco’s Union Square.
The rookie fought off the robbery, but one bullet struck him and another hit the suspect.
Pearsall, 23, sustained several injuries after being shot in the chest. Diana Luna via Storyful
The rookie fought back, leading to multiple shots going off, one of which struck him and another hitting the 17-year-old suspect. Diana Luna via Storyful
The suspect was almost immediately arrested as he tried to flee the busy street on foot.
Officers aided Pearsall and the suspect before they were transported to a hospital for treatment, where the rookie was listed in “serious but stable condition.”
The first-round draft pick had been signing autographs earlier in the afternoon before he was shot.
Police officers secure the area and investigate the scene of a shooting at Union Square in San Francisco on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Pearsall was released from the hospital Sunday, and his mother, Erin, shared that her son was “extremely lucky.”
“First and far [sic] most I want to thank God for protecting my baby boy,” his mother wrote on Facebook on Sunday.
“He is extremely lucky, God shielded him. He was shot in the chest, and it exited out his back. Thanks be to God it missed his vital organs.”
Pearsall speaks at an NFL football news conference on April 26, 2024, at the team’s facility in Santa Clara, Calif. AP
Pearsall was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list Monday.
He will be eligible to return for the team’s fifth game against the Cardinals on Oct. 6.
Pearsall was selected with the 49ers’ first-round pick in June’s draft — No. 31 overall — and played three years at Arizona State and two at Florida during his collegiate career.
Pearsall participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images
He tallied 965 receiving yards and six touchdowns with the Gators in his senior season.
The rookie was reportedly in the 49ers’ weight room on Monday, just two days after the horrifying encounter.
Niners general manager John Lynch expects Pearsall on the field in 2024, saying it was “nothing short of miraculous” that he was doing as well as he was after the incident.
“Oh yeah. He’s doing remarkably well,” Lynch said when asked on Tuesday if Pearsall could play for the 49ers this season.
“It’s kinda uncharted territory. It’s not every day you deal with something like this.”
