San Francisco 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall reportedly asked a police officer if he would die after he was shot over the weekend.
Pearsall, who was selected by the 49ers in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, was shot in the chest Saturday night after he was attacked over his Rolex watch in downtown San Francisco.
The 23-year-old wide receiver was initially described as “serious but stable” but was released from the hospital on Sunday.
After his release, a San Francisco police officer has revealed Pearsall’s first terrifying words after he was shot on Saturday.
Via NBC Bay AreaSgt. Joelle Harrell said, “He looked at me and said, ‘Am I going to die?’ I was like, ‘No.'”
San Francisco 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall asked a police officer if he would die after being shot over the weekend
‘I take my hat off because I wanted to make eye contact with him. I wanted him to hear me. I said to him, “Listen, look at me. I know you don’t know me, but I want you to trust me, it’s not your time yet.”‘
Harrell didn’t know Pearsall was an NFL player until she began treating the wound, at which point she tried to reassure him by saying, “Remember, you’re going to be OK. You’re strong, be strong like you are on the field.”
“And he listened,” she added, via San Francisco Chronicle“He calmed down, and I wanted that too.”
It is believed that a 17-year-old suspect attempted to rob Pearsall of his Rolex watch. A struggle ensued and both were shot near Union Square.
Police immediately arrested the suspect, who was not wearing shoes after losing them at the scene of the attack. They remained in custody as of Monday evening and could face charges this week.
Pearsall was shot in the chest on Saturday night after being targeted for his Rolex watch
Sergeant Joelle Harrell recalls the NFL wideout’s first, terrifying words after the shooting
Following the ordeal, Pearsall was placed on the 49ers’ reserve/non-football injury list on Monday.
He will therefore miss at least the first four games of his debut season after the incident in Union Square in San Francisco on Saturday.
To fill the vacancy on their 53-player roster, the Niners signed offensive tackle Brandon Parker to a one-year contract.