The legal representative for a 17-year-old high school senior implicated in the daylight shooting of San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall stated on Tuesday that recent video evidence supports the argument that the teenager should not face attempted murder charges. San Francisco Deputy Public Defender Bob Dunlap revealed this information after a preliminary hearing, during which the teen decided to forgo his right to a prompt trial. The evidence collected suggests that the incident on August 31 at Union Square was actually an attempted robbery, not attempted murder. According to Dunlap, the footage illustrates an extended struggle between the two individuals, with Pearsall gaining the upper hand. This aligns with Dunlap’s longstanding belief that the event was a robbery attempt, not an attempt to commit murder.
Upon leaving luxury stores in Union Square on the fateful day, Pearsall, aged 23, was walking to his car when the suspect, upon noticing the NFL player’s Rolex watch and other valuable jewelry, allegedly tried to rob him at gunpoint, as per the San Francisco police. A scuffle ensued resulting in both Pearsall and the teenager sustaining gunshot wounds, with the teen being shot in the arm. The teenager, hailing from Tracy, a city situated about 60 miles east of San Francisco, was apprehended about a block away from where the altercation occurred.
The San Francisco District Attorney, Brooke Jenkins, filed charges against the teenager last week for attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic weapon, and attempted second-degree robbery. Several firearm-related charges were later added by her office. Jenkins has yet to determine whether the juvenile will be tried as an adult. She emphasized that further investigation is needed to potentially transfer the case to adult court, highlighting that California law mandates judicial approval to prosecute a minor as an adult.
Pearsall, the rookie player, was shot at close range in the chest, officials reported. Fortunately, the bullet passed through his chest without hitting any vital organs. Pearsall was discharged from the hospital the following day and returned to the team’s facility two days after the incident. He made an appearance at the team’s season opener at Levi’s Stadium on Monday night, where he honored the first responders who assisted him after the shooting by presenting them with signed jerseys.
The shooting of Pearsall, which transpired in an upscale shopping area in the city, once again brought national attention to San Francisco, a city dealing with issues like rampant shoplifting, vacant storefronts, and assaults on Asian-American elders ahead of the upcoming mayoral election. Mayor London Breed, a Democrat, is facing a tough reelection campaign in November.
