San Francisco 49ers first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall was shot Saturday afternoon in the city’s Union Square district and was in stable condition at a local hospital.
Mayor London Breed said San Francisco police were on the scene “immediately” and the suspected shooter was in custody. At a news conference Saturday night, police chief William Scott said the suspect was a 17-year-old.
Pearsall “sustained a bullet wound to his chest and is in serious but stable condition,” the 49ers said in a statement. “We ask that you please respect his privacy at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ricky and the entire Pearsall family.”
Pearsall, 23, was taken to San Francisco General Hospital. Video shot in Union Square and posted to social media showed a shirtless Pearsall gingerly walking to an ambulance with assistance from police. As he sat on a gurney, he moved his left hand, which was pressing his shirt against the right side of his chest, near his shoulder, and blood was visible.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the 911 call came in at 3:28 p.m. local time, and when police responded, there were two gunshot victims. The other victim was the alleged robber, shot while in a struggle with Pearsall over the gun.
Aaron Peskin, the president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said he received a briefing from police and was told Pearsall fought back.
The 49ers selected Pearsall, a wide receiver who will turn 24 on Sept. 9, with the 31st pick in the April draft, and he signed a four-year, $12.5 million guaranteed contract with a $5.9 million signing bonus.
He was limited in training camp because of shoulder and hamstring issues, missing all three preseason games. He has a history of shoulder problems dating to his college days at Florida.
–Field Level Media
