San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall He offered his perspective on being shot in the chest during an attempted armed robbery last year.
Pearsall, 24 years old He was taken to the hospital as a result of the shooting In August 2024, it happened in Union Square in San Francisco when a 17-year-old tried to rob the football star at gunpoint.
“I don't know how he was raised, so I can't judge him as a man based on one act that he committed, as far as it being a violent crime,” Pearsall told reporters on Monday, January 6. Prevent him from doing this to someone else. “I never want that to happen.”
“But for me, just being able to forgive him,” Pearsall added. I have to be able to forgive him for taking this weight off my chest.
Three days after the shooting, an unnamed minor was killed Charged with attempted murder Regarding the accident. The suspect, who remains jailed, faces one count of second-degree robbery and one count of assault with a semi-automatic firearm.
“At some point, I want to talk to the kid,” Pearsall said. “If I can make an impact on him in any way, I think that would be really good and I would be open to doing that for sure.”
Pearsall was taken to hospital in “serious but stable” condition after the shooting. He was released the next day.
“A struggle ensued between Mr. Pearsall and the suspect, and the suspect’s gun was fired at Mr. Pearsall and the suspect,” the San Francisco Police Chief said. Bill Scott He said in a statement after the incident. “This type of violence is simply unacceptable in our city and we will do everything in our power to work with District Attorney Brooke Jenkins to ensure justice is served in this matter.”
Pearsall, who was drafted by the 49ers with the 31st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, missed the team's first six games this season as a result of his injury. He made his NFL debut on October 20, 2024, exactly 50 days after his firing.
“It meant everything,” Pearsall told reporters after the game. “Obviously with all the adversity I've been through over the past months, it was really good to be out with my teammates again.”
He continued: “At the end of the day when the accident first happened, the first thing I was thinking about was the guys and the coaches in the locker room, and all the staff, and they did a really good job of getting around me, making sure I stayed awake, and it was a huge blessing for me.”