Teen accused of shooting 49ers' Ricky Pearsall is 'truly sorry,' attorney says

The 17-year-old accused of shooting San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall during a botched armed robbery attempt last weekend was arraigned in juvenile court Wednesday, a day after being charged with multiple felonies, including attempted murder.

Judge Roger C. Chan read the charges against the teen, who was referred to only by his initials because he is a minor. The charges include personal use and intentional discharge of a firearm, assault with a semi-automatic firearm and attempted second-degree robbery.

The young man, who police said lives in Tracy, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) east of San Francisco, sat facing the camera throughout the brief hearing, next to his court-appointed attorney, Bob Dunlap. His parents sat in the front row of the public benches, a few feet from their son. His mother needed a Spanish-speaking translator.

Assistant District Attorney David Mitchell said members of Pearsall's family also attended the hearing, though he did not specify which family members were present or whether they joined the hearing online or attended in person.

Neither the suspect nor his family have made any public comments. Responding to media questions after the hearing, Dunlap said the teen — whom he described as a high school student — and his parents were “very sorry” about the shooting.

“It's very, very hard for them,” Dunlap said. “They've assured me, and from what I know, that this is absolutely not like him.”

Pearsall, 23, was walking alone to his car after shopping at one of the luxury stores in San Francisco's Union Square neighborhood Saturday afternoon when a gunman confronted Pearsall and attempted to rob him, targeting his Rolex watch. A fight broke out and the attacker's gun fired multiple times, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said at a news conference Saturday night. Pearsall and the attacker were both shot.

A bullet hit Pearsall in the chest and exited through his back, missing his vital organs, according to a social media post by his mother. He was treated at San Francisco General Hospital and released Sunday.

The suspect was shot in the left arm and was treated at the same hospital, police said. Dunlap said his client was bandaged but recovering well.

Dunlap said it was too early to answer questions about why the teen was in San Francisco, or what his motivations were. Dunlap said he has read a police report about the incident but has not yet been able to view video of the shooting that investigators are collecting from surveillance cameras in the area, which he said would shed more light on what happened.

Learn more: San Francisco 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall released from hospital after being shot during attempted robbery

He added that there were “mitigating circumstances” that he believed could play a role in the case, but provided no details. He also said he was not convinced the attempted murder charge “would ultimately hold up.”

A probation official revealed during the hearing that the suspect has a pending case in San Joaquin County Juvenile Court. Authorities have not provided any details about that case, though Dunlap said his client likely will be transferred to San Joaquin County once the San Francisco proceedings are completed.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins has not yet indicated whether she plans to try the teen in adult court. That would require a ruling by a judge that “essentially means the juvenile system would not be equipped to rehabilitate this minor,” Jenkins said.

Dunlap said it would be inappropriate for the case to be transferred out of juvenile court.

“I think my client should certainly be treated as a minor. He is a minor,” Dunlap said.

Pearsall, who played for Arizona State and the University of Florida, was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was sidelined with a shoulder injury for much of the NFL preseason.

The 49ers placed Pearsall on non-football injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the first four games of the regular season. Team officials said they expect him to make a full recovery.

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This article was originally published in the Los Angeles Times.