SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A 17-year-old high school senior has been charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident involving San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall that occurred during the day over the weekend. The teenager appeared in juvenile court on Wednesday and, through his attorney, expressed remorse for his actions.
The young man, dressed in a green sweatshirt and matching pants, remained focused on the judge during the court session and did not acknowledge his parents, who were present in the room.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced the charges against the teen on Tuesday, which included attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic weapon, and attempted second-degree robbery. On Wednesday, additional gun-related charges were added.
The prosecutor’s office has not yet determined if they will seek to try the teenager as an adult. They indicated that they need more time to investigate and, if appropriate, may petition the court for a transfer to adult court. California law requires judicial approval before a minor can be charged as an adult.
The teen’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Bob Dunlap, spoke to the media after the hearing, emphasizing that the teen and his family are genuinely sorry for what occurred. “He sincerely regrets the incident, and so does his family. We extend our heartfelt thoughts to the Pearsall family and to Mr. Pearsall himself. There is true remorse felt,” Dunlap stated. “He is just a young boy.”
A probation officer suggested that the teen should remain in custody and be transferred back to his home county of San Joaquin, where he has another pending case. However, Superior Court Judge Roger C. Chan decided that the teen would remain in custody in San Francisco.
Family members of both the teenager and Ricky Pearsall were in attendance during the proceedings, Judge Chan noted.
The shooting of a professional athlete in broad daylight, especially in a prestigious shopping area downtown, has brought renewed national attention to a city grappling with issues like rampant shoplifting, vacant stores, and attacks on Asian American seniors. Mayor London Breed, a Democrat, finds herself in a competitive reelection campaign this November.
Ricky Pearsall, 23, was on his way to his car shortly after 3:30 p.m. Saturday after shopping at high-end stores in Union Square. It is alleged that the suspect noticed Pearsall wearing a Rolex watch and attempted to rob him. A struggle ensued, leading to gunfire that resulted in injuries to both Pearsall and the teenager, with the latter suffering a gunshot wound to the arm, as reported by police.
Pearsall sustained a gunshot wound to the chest at close range, officials reported. His mother, Erin Pearsall, shared on social media that the bullet passed through the right side of her son’s chest, exiting out his back without damaging any vital organs.
Fortunately, Pearsall was released from the San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center on Sunday. By Monday, he had returned to the training facility, according to San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch. The team has placed Pearsall on the non-football injury list, allowing him time to recover from both the shooting and a shoulder injury that had troubled him throughout the summer.
The teenager is from Tracy, a city located approximately 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of San Francisco, and he was apprehended about a block from where the confrontation with Pearsall took place.
