San Francisco 49ers first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall was reportedly shot and seriously injured during an attempted robbery in downtown San Francisco on Saturday, according to Mayor London Breed.
San Francisco 49ers first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall was reportedly shot and seriously injured during a robbery attempt in downtown San Francisco on Saturday, according to Mayor London Breed.
Breed released a statement confirming the incident, which occurred in Union Square at around 3:38 p.m.
San Francisco 49ers Draft Pick Ricky Pearsall Shot in Robbery Attempt
"My thoughts are with Ricky and his family at this time," Breed said.
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) arrested a suspect in the shooting, and charges are pending.
San Francisco 49ers Draft Pick Ricky Pearsall Shot in Robbery Attempt
According to SFPD, Pearsall was attempting to rob the victim when a physical altercation ensued, resulting in both Pearsall and the victim being injured.
Pearsall was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition, according to the 49ers. The team released a statement saying that he sustained a bullet wound to his chest.
San Francisco 49ers Draft Pick Ricky Pearsall Shot in Robbery Attempt
49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel took to social media to express his relief that Pearsall was okay, saying, "He’s good. Thank god!!!!," in an apparent reference to Pearsall’s condition.
Pearsall was the 31st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the 49ers after a standout senior season at Florida, where he totaled 1,027 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games in 2023.
However, Pearsall missed a lot of the preseason due to a shoulder injury, which head coach Kyle Shanahan called a shoulder subluxation. Shanahan said his latest subluxation came on Aug. 6, but he was fighting through it during practice.
Pearsall was also dealing with a hamstring injury that caused him to miss all three of the 49ers’ preseason games.
The shooting has raised concerns about the safety of players in downtown San Francisco. Mayor Breed has pledged to increase police presence in the area.
"We are going to do everything we can to make sure that our city is safe for everyone," Breed said.
The SFPD is continuing its investigation into the shooting.
