Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski has condemned the senseless shooting of San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, calling for an end to such violence.
Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski has expressed his outrage over the recent shooting of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, calling the incident "senseless" and "sad."
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Gronkowski said he was "very glad" that Pearsall was not critically injured in the attempted robbery that took place days before the start of the 2024 season.
Rob Gronkowski Expresses Outrage Over Ricky Pearsall Shooting
"That was another senseless act. Another senseless situation where it's sad to see happen," Gronkowski said. "We're glad to see him pop back, and we're all praying for him, and we're all cheering for him to have a 100% recovery so we can see him go out there and perform on the football field."
Pearsall was shot in the chest and the bullet exited his back, missing vital organs. He was released from the hospital less than 24 hours after the shooting. He has been placed on the non-football illness list and will miss the first four games of the season.
Rob Gronkowski Expresses Outrage Over Ricky Pearsall Shooting
Gronkowski, who is known for his charismatic personality and larger-than-life persona, said he was "a personal fan" of Pearsall and was looking forward to seeing him play again soon.
"I'm sure that's going to be everyone's favorite player, which it should be once he gets back and he has a couple catches. Everyone's going to be going crazy for him," Gronkowski said.
Rob Gronkowski Expresses Outrage Over Ricky Pearsall Shooting
Gronkowski, who is set to star in a few Tostitos commercials over the course of the 2024 season, said Pearsall's ability to walk away from the shooting was "pretty wild."
"He's a tough kid. He's a strong kid. He's got a lot of support around him," Gronkowski said. "I'm sure he's going to bounce back and be even better than he was before."
Gronkowski added that he has never experienced a similar incident himself, but acknowledged that he is a public figure and has to be aware of his surroundings.
"I know there's a target on my back. I know I'm a guy in the public," Gronkowski said. "I know I'm very well known, especially when I was playing. So, I would try to stay away from any situation where I know I could be in danger."
A 17-year-old suspect has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic weapon, and attempted second-degree robbery in connection with the shooting. The suspect's attorney has said that his client is "genuinely very sorry" for what happened.
Gronkowski said he hopes that the suspect will be held accountable for his actions, and that the incident will serve as a wake-up call to society about the dangers of gun violence.
"We need to put an end to this senseless violence," Gronkowski said. "It's not just happening in the NFL, it's happening all over the country. We need to find a way to stop it."
