San Francisco 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall was shot by a 17-year-old allegedly over his “expensive watch”! Yikes!
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Ricky had just attended an autograph signing and was shopping for luggage (to use for away games) on August 31 at around 3:30 p.m. in San Fran’s Union Square when he was held up at gunpoint by a teen near his car. Per the San Francisco Police Department, “a physical altercation ensued” and they were both injured by gunfire.
The NFL star was shot in the right side of his chest, with the bullet miraculously exiting his back without hitting any vital organs or nerves. He is expected to recover and return to the field. Wow! So, so lucky!
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Speaking to the outlet, Sgt. Joelle Harrell said she heard the gunfire from a block away and when she got to the scene, she saw the rookie slumped by a post office box with blood oozing out of the wound. She recalled him yelling:
“He tried to rob me!”
The 23-year-old also asked if he was going to die. Oof. So sad! She pressed his shirt and her baseball hat against his wound to stop the bleeding, telling him:
“You’re strong. Just focus on the breathing.”
According to Sgt. Frank Harrell, who is married to the first responder, the teenager “spotted him for his expensive watch.” Experts interviewed by the outlet believe Pearsall was wearing a Rolex Datejust, valued at about $12,000. The watch was also visible in social media posts (below):
Ricky told authorities that the alleged shooter ran away from the scene after they were both injured, leaving behind his slip-on shoes. The teen was arrested barefoot nearby. Per police, he was shot in the arm by his own gunfire, the Associated Press reported. They were both taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center for treatment. After the incident, 49ers General Manager John Lynch spoke in a press conference on Tuesday:
“It’s nothing short of miraculous that he came out of this as good as he did.”
The player has been put on the non-football injury list and will not be playing for “four weeks, at least.” But his future on the team is not at stake, he insisted:
“When we drafted Ricky, we did it for the long term. And Ricky is going to be a fantastic player here. But first and foremost, we’re going to make sure that he’s all good and ready to go, more than ready by the time we bring him back.”
Heartbreakingly, when Lynch went to visit the athlete in the hospital, Ricky’s “earliest concerns” regarded “when he could play.” He told the manager:
“I promise you, I’m not injury prone.”
Aw! Sad to think he was worried about his place on the team while dealing with this frightening situation! Thankfully, the general manager quickly calmed his nerves, reminding him that being shot is “out of your control.” He added that this is “unchartered territory,” but confirmed:
“He’s doing remarkably well.”
Ricky returned to the team facility on Monday, 49ers communication manager Kristin Wojcik told People. In the press conference, the general manager said the team has emphasized “being safe and being aware” in San Fran. But considering the player was merely luggage shopping, he argued:
“We should be able to do that and not be concerned.”
So true! The unnamed suspect was charged with attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and attempted second-degree robbery. Per AP, several other gun-related charges were added at his hearing.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told People that she “will seek to have the minor held in custody” due to “the public safety risk posed.” It has not yet been determined whether she will request a fitness hearing to move the case to adult court, as she noted early on Wednesday:
“This case will be tried like all other cases, in the courtroom, not in the press. We will follow the facts, evidence and the law and do our jobs to seek justice.”
Later on Wednesday, the teenager was initially arraigned in juvenile court, per the Associated Press. After the hearing, his attorney, Deputy Public Defender Bob Dunlap, told reporters on his behalf:
“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. He is a young boy.”
The suspect is from the city of Tracy, California — about 60 miles east of San Fran. The judge ruled that he would stay in San Francisco and in custody despite a recommendation from his probation officer to have him transferred to his home county, where he has another matter pending, AP noted.
We’re sending our thoughts to Ricky as he heals! What a scary incident!!!
[Image via Ricky Pearsall/Instagram & San Francisco 49ers/YouTube]
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