By Andrew Battifarano and Patrick Reilly
San Francisco 49ers first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall was shot and wounded by a teenage thief who tried to steal his Rolex watch in the middle of the troubled California city Saturday, according to police and reports.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot on Saturday. AP
The 23-year-old rookie was walking alone in San Francisco’s Union Square around 3:37 p.m. when a 17-year-old armed with a gun tried to rob him on Geary Street near Grant Street, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott told reporters at a press conference.
During the robbery, reportedly for the NFLer’s luxury watch, there was a struggle over the weapon which fired multiple times leaving Pearsall shot in the chest, police said.
“Ricky wasn’t having any of it,” San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin said cops told him of the NFL player’s determination to fight off the robbery, according to the LA Times.
Both were taken to San Francisco General Hospital, Scott said.
Pearsall is in “serious but stable condition” the 49ers organization said in a statement.
The teen is also in stable condition, according to police.
The suspect was almost immediately arrested by responding officers as he tried to flee the scene on foot, Scott said. A gun was recovered, police said.
There is “no indication [Pearsall] was targeted because he is a football player,” Scott told reporters.
Video from the scene obtained by KTVU shows Pearsall shirtless walking to the ambulance with first responders.
He appears to be holding his shirt over a wound on torso as he’s placed on a stretcher. An EMT removes the covering, revealing a large blood stain on his bare skin as he’s loaded into the vehicle, the clip shows.
“Robberies and any violence like this will not be tolerated in our city,” San Francisco mayor London Breen said.
“When incidents like this occur, what matters is supporting the victim and holding those accountable who break our laws and endanger the lives of others,” she said, offering her thoughts and prayers to Pearsall and his family.
Charges are still pending for the juvenile. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said she expects a charging decision to be made early next week in juvenile court due to the suspect’s age.
“We are not a city that will be tolerant of this type of conduct,” Jenkins said.
A Union Square security guard told The San Francisco Chronicle she saw a man, possibly the robber, running into the Diptyque store carrying bags. Several shots rang out, sending people screaming and running for their lives, she said.
Hours later, about a dozen cops remained at the taped-off scene and were spotted dusting two Teslas for fingerprints, according to the paper.
Pearsall’s teammate and fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel tweeted, “He’s good. Thank god!!!!”
The Arizona State University and University of Florida wide-out was selected 31st overall by the Niners in this year’s draft after an impressive 65-catch, 965-yard 2023 season with the Gators.
He has missed all of the 49ers preseason games due to a shoulder injury Pearsall participated in just six of 19 training camp practices before he was sidelined, NBC Bay Area reported.
Pearsall had just recovered enough to begin practicing with his new team when he was shot.
