By Football fans in San Francisco were rocked on Saturday afternoon when Ricky Pearsall, the promising rookie wide receiver for the 49ers and a first-round NFL draft pick, was shot during a robbery attempt in Union Square. The brazen attack took place in the heart of the city, in an area known for its bustling activity and high-end shopping.
Pearsall, who had been making headlines for his impressive performances on the field, was shot in the chest and quickly transported to San Francisco General Hospital. The 49ers released a statement confirming that Pearsall is in serious but stable condition.
Details of the incident, as described by Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, suggest that Pearsall fought back against his attacker. According to Peskin, who was briefed by a police captain, Pearsall’s resistance led to a struggle in which the assailant was wounded by his own firearm. “He wasn’t having any of it,” the captain reportedly told Peskin, reflecting Pearsall’s refusal to succumb to the robbery attempt. The event has not only cast a pall over the city but has also raised pressing questions about safety in one of San Francisco’s most iconic districts.
CNN writes that a 17-year-old boy attempted to rob Pearsall at gunpoint as he was walking alone at around 3:30 p.m. PT, when an altercation broke out between the two, resulting in both of them suffering injuries, according to the San Francisco Police Department.
“Gunfire from the suspect’s gun struck both Mr. Pearsall and the subject,” San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said in a Saturday news conference, adding multiple shots were fired.
Charges against the suspect will be filed in juvenile court, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said at the news conference. A charging decision will be made by Tuesday or Wednesday, Jenkins said.
“Given that the suspect is a juvenile at this time, those charges will be filed in the juvenile court as we continue to review the evidence to figure out where we go from there,” Jenkins said.
CNN’s description is a good example of how liberal outlets will downplay violence that come as the result of their stance on crime. The “boy” who shot Pearsall is a 17-year-old from Tracy, California, and was caught by police when he tried to run away.
According to some early reports, the NFL wide receiver was shot by a well-known gang member who had been picked up on charges three days prior. The alleged assailant had only been free a few days before the assault.
The New York Post reported that Pearsall’s mother, Erin, took to Facebook to let the public know that the bullet “exited out his back” after entering through the wide receiver’s chest and missing his vital organs.
“First and far most I want to thank God for protecting my baby boy,” Erin wrote in her post earlier in the day, hours before the announcement of Pearsall getting released. “He is extremely lucky, God shielded him. He was shot in the chest and it exited out his back. Thanks be to God it missed his vital organs.”
She added that Pearsall was “in good spirits” after being taken to the hospital in what the 49ers called “serious but stable condition” following the shooting.
“Life is so precious my friends,” Erin continued in her Facebook post. “Please love each other. My son was spared today by the grace of God. Please pray for my baby.”
Over the past two decades, San Francisco has seen a dramatic increase in crime.
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