The teen charged in the shooting of San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall has expressed remorse through his attorney. During a juvenile court arraignment on Wednesday, the 17-year-old high school senior stated he was “very sorry” for the incident.
Dressed in a green sweatshirt and pants, the young man maintained a serious demeanor, focusing on the judge without acknowledging his parents, who were present in the courtroom.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins filed charges against him, including attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic weapon, and attempted second-degree robbery. The following day, additional gun-related charges were introduced.
The decision on whether to prosecute the minor as an adult remains pending, as the district attorney’s office is conducting further investigations. Under California law, minors cannot be charged as adults without judicial consent.
After the hearing, Deputy Public Defender Bob Dunlap conveyed the teen’s genuine remorse. “He and his family are very sorry for what happened, and our thoughts are with the Pearsall family,” Dunlap remarked, emphasizing the youth’s age and the gravity of the situation.
A probation officer suggested that the teen remain in custody and be transferred to his home county of San Joaquin, where he faces another case. However, Judge Roger C. Chan ruled that he would remain in custody in San Francisco.
Family members of both the accused and Pearsall attended the proceedings, highlighting the emotional weight of the situation.
The shooting incident, which occurred in broad daylight in an upscale shopping area, has drawn national attention to San Francisco’s ongoing struggles with crime, including shoplifting and assaults. Mayor London Breed is facing a challenging reelection campaign in November amid these concerns.
On Saturday, Pearsall, 23, was walking to his car after shopping at luxury stores when the suspect allegedly attempted to rob him, noticing the NFL player’s Rolex watch. A confrontation ensued, leading to gunfire that struck both Pearsall and the teen, who suffered a gunshot wound to his arm.
Reports indicate that Pearsall was shot in the chest at close range. His mother, Erin Pearsall, later shared on social media that the bullet passed through his body without hitting vital organs.
After receiving treatment at the San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Pearsall was released on Sunday. He returned to the 49ers facility on Monday, where General Manager John Lynch announced that Pearsall would be placed on the non-football injury list to allow him time to recover from both the shooting and a shoulder injury.
The accused teen resides in Tracy, approximately 60 miles east of San Francisco, and was apprehended close to the location of the incident.
