Ricky Pearsall, the San Francisco 49ers’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was shot during an attempted robbery at San Francisco’s Union Square, according to a statement from the San Francisco police. Pearsall is in stable condition and the suspect is in custody. His mother, Erin Pearsall, posted on Facebook that he was shot through the chest, but luckily the bullet did not hit any vital organs. A video posted on social media shows Pearsall walking to an ambulance while covering a chest wound after the shooting. The Niners released a statement confirming Pearsall was the victim of an attempted robbery and described his condition as serious but stable after sustaining a bullet wound to the chest.
Police reported that Pearsall was shot after a struggle for the gun with a suspect who was allegedly trying to steal a Rolex watch as Pearsall was heading to a signing event. The suspect was also shot through the chest and is currently stable at San Francisco General Hospital. San Francisco mayor London Breed and police chief William Scott both posted statements reacting to the news, which is a concerning issue considering the current crime rates in San Francisco. Scott later revealed in a news conference that the suspect is a 17-year-old male from Tracy, Calif., believed to have acted alone. San Francisco district attorney Brooke Jenkins stated that the suspect will have charges filed in juvenile court at this time.
Ricky Pearsall was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 31st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, adding him to a wide receiver room that includes All-Pros Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Shortly after news of the shooting surfaced, Samuel tweeted that Pearsall is doing well. Pearsall played college football at Arizona State and Florida, finishing his final season at Florida with 965 receiving yards and six total touchdowns. He was primarily seen as a second-round prospect leading up to the draft but was highly regarded for his route running and soft hands as a slot receiver.
Injuries had sidelined Pearsall during his first NFL training camp, as he spent time on the reserve/non-football injury list with a hamstring injury and dealt with a shoulder injury after his activation. It remains uncertain how much time he will miss due to his gunshot wound. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott stated that there is no indication that Pearsall was targeted because he is a football player, and the incident is believed to have been an attempted robbery. Scott reassured that they are confident in this assessment. The news of Pearsall’s shooting has shocked and garnered responses from former teammates and players who knew him, expressing their support and well wishes for his recovery.
