Adolescent formally charged with attempted murder in shooting of San Francisco 49ers rookie expresses deep remorse

A 17-year-old high school senior faced charges of attempted murder in the shooting of San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver, Ricky Pearsall, during the daytime over the weekend. The teenager appeared in juvenile court wearing a green sweatshirt and pants, expressing remorse through his attorney for the incident. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins initially charged him with attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic weapon, and attempted second-degree robbery, followed by additional gun-related charges as of Wednesday.
The District Attorney’s office is contemplating whether to try the juvenile as an adult, pending further investigation and potential court petitions for transferring the case. California law mandates judicial approval to charge a minor as an adult. The teen’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Bob Dunlap, stated the teen and his family’s sincere apology for the incident, extending sympathy to the Pearsall family.
Despite a probation officer’s recommendation to transfer the teen to his home county of San Joaquin due to an unresolved matter there, the Superior Court Judge ruled for him to remain in San Francisco custody. Family members of both the teenager and Pearsall were present during the court proceeding. The daylight shooting of the NFL player in a posh shopping district reignited attention on San Francisco’s challenges with theft, vacant stores, and assaults on Asian American seniors.
Ricky Pearsall, 23, was shot while walking to his car in Union Square after shopping, allegedly targeted for his Rolex watch. Both Pearsall and the teenager were wounded during a struggle, putting Pearsall in the hospital with a close-range chest gunshot. Fortunately, the bullet passed through his chest without hitting any vital organs. Pearsall was discharged from the hospital on Sunday and returned to the team facility on Monday, as confirmed by San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, who placed Pearsall on the non-football injury list for recovery from the shooting and a previous shoulder injury.
The involved teenager resides in Tracy, located 60 miles east of San Francisco, and was apprehended a block away from the shooting location.