A 17-year-old high school senior has been charged with attempted murder following a shooting involving San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall. The teenager was arraigned in juvenile court on Wednesday, where he expressed remorse for the incident through his attorney.
The accused, dressed in a green sweatshirt and green pants, maintained a forward gaze during the court session and did not acknowledge his parents present in the courtroom.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins filed charges against the teen on Tuesday, including attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic weapon, and attempted second-degree robbery. On Wednesday, additional gun-related charges were introduced. The decision on whether to prosecute the juvenile as an adult remains pending, as further investigation is required. California law necessitates judicial approval for charging a minor as an adult.
Deputy Public Defender Bob Dunlap, representing the teen, expressed the defendant’s sincere regret. “He’s genuinely very sorry that this did happen, as is his family, and I can say on their behalf, as well as on my own behalf, our thoughts go out to the Pearsall family and Mr. Pearsall himself. So there is genuine, genuine remorse in that regard,” Dunlap said. “He is a young boy.”
A probation officer suggested that the teen remain in custody and be transferred to his home county of San Joaquin, where he has another legal matter. However, Superior Court Judge Roger C. Chan ruled that the teen would stay in San Francisco custody.
Family members of both the accused and Pearsall were present in court on Wednesday.
The shooting occurred on Saturday in an upscale shopping district in downtown San Francisco. Pearsall, 23, was alone and walking to his car after shopping at Union Square when the suspect allegedly targeted him due to a Rolex watch he was wearing. A struggle ensued, resulting in gunfire that injured both Pearsall and the suspect. Pearsall was shot in the chest at close range, while the suspect was hit in the arm.
Pearsall’s mother, Erin Pearsall, reported on social media that the bullet passed through her son’s chest without hitting any vital organs. Pearsall was released from San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center on Sunday.
He resumed activities at the team facility on Monday. San Francisco 49ers General Manager John Lynch confirmed that Pearsall was placed on the non-football injury list to allow for recovery from the shooting and a pre-existing shoulder injury.
The accused resides in Tracy, approximately 60 miles east of San Francisco, and was apprehended about a block from the shooting location.
