San Francisco 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall was released from the hospital Sunday after he was shot during an attempted robbery, the team confirmed.
Pearsall, 23, who was selected in the NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers in April, was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery in Union Square in San Francisco. He is said to be in stable but serious condition.
The franchise announced Sunday, just 24 hours after the terrifying incident, that the wide receiver has left San Francisco General Hospital and will continue his recovery at home.
“San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was released from the hospital this afternoon, continuing to recover from a gunshot wound to the chest,” the team announced in a statement Sunday afternoon.
“He and his family, along with the entire San Francisco 49ers organization, would like to thank the San Francisco Police Department, the emergency medical services, the doctors and staff at San Francisco General Hospital.”
San Francisco 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall was released from the hospital Sunday after being shot
It’s unclear how long the young wideout will be sidelined while he recovers from the gunshot wound.
Last August, Brian Robinson Jr., then a rookie in the Washington Commanders, was wounded in the leg and hip when he was shot as he left a restaurant in the Near Northeast neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
The Alabama native made a remarkable comeback in October, playing against the Tennessee Titans, just six weeks after he was shot twice in an attempted carjacking.
Earlier on Sunday, the Arizona resident’s mother, Erin, shared an update on her son’s condition, saying he had been shot in the chest and that thankfully the bullet exited through his spine, bypassing any vital organs.
According to police, Pearsall was caught wearing his Rolex watch after shopping at a nearby expensive department store.
According to authorities, a 17-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene and is now in custody.
The attempted robbery failed when the suspect was shot from his own gun during a struggle with Pearsall, authorities said. Pearsall refused to surrender.
The suspect suffered a hand or arm injury and is said to be in stable condition at San Francisco General Hospital as he awaits charges, police said. It is unclear at this time whether he has been released and is now in police custody.
Pearsall was treated at the same institution.
The wideout (pictured with girlfriend Victoria Moraga) was treated at San Francisco General Hospital
He was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery in Union Square in San Francisco
Pearsall’s mother, Erin (right), gave an update on her son’s condition on Sunday
Chronicle reporters saw five shell casings at the crime scene, where Pearsall was reportedly shopping moments earlier.
A witness told the Chronicle that blood was streaming down Pearsall’s left arm.
“It was a terrifying situation,” the witness, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Chronicle.
Pearsall was actually seen walking away after the shooting on Saturday.
As seen in a video shared by KTVU’s Zak Sos on X, the injured Pearsall was carried by emergency workers to a waiting ambulance, where he was placed on a stretcher. Pearsall moved slowly during the footage, which was shot from across the street. He didn’t appear overly distressed, but he did cover his chest area.
KGO-TV’s Dion Lim reported that Pearsall signed autographs at Cow Palace before heading downtown to shop at Union Square. Lim’s sources say he was at a high-end designer store just before he was shot.
Police released a statement late Saturday night describing the incident.
“On August 31, 2024, at approximately 3:37 p.m., officers with the San Francisco Police Department responded to a report of a shooting in the area of Geary Street and Grant Avenue,” the statement provided to DailyMail.com read. “Upon arrival, officers located two male subjects who were injured. Officers rendered aid and medics transported both subjects to a local hospital for further medical evaluation.
Pearsall moved slowly during the footage, which was shot from across the street. He didn’t appear overly upset.
As seen in a video shared by KTVU’s Zak Sos on X, the injured Pearsall was carried by emergency workers to a waiting ambulance, where he was placed on a stretcher
Blood and a shell casing are seen as evidence as police officers secure the area
Police officers secure the area and investigate the scene of a shooting in Union Square
Pearsall was reportedly shopping at a nearby upscale department store before he was shot
“During the preliminary investigation, officers learned that one of the suspects attempted to rob the victim, San Francisco 49ers player Ricky Pearsall. During the attempted robbery, a physical altercation ensued, resulting in injuries to both the suspect and victim. The suspect is in custody and charges are pending.”
Mayor London Breed called the shooting a “horrific and rare incident in Union Square.”
Breed called the incident a “setback” for an area where crime actually fell in 2024.
“Sometimes the data goes out the window when something like this happens,” Breed said, as quoted by the Chronicle.
San Francisco has been plagued by shootings for years, though Breed boasted in April that violent crime was down 14 percent compared to the same period in 2023. According to City Hall, gun violence was down 38 percent in the first quarter of 2024.
During the pandemic, violent crime in San Francisco has skyrocketed, with 56 and 48 murders in 2021 and 2020, respectively.