San Francisco, CA
Teen arraigned on attempted murder in shooting of 49ers' Ricky Pearsall says he is very sorry
SAN FRANCISCO — A 17-year-old high school senior charged with attempted murder in the daytime weekend shooting of San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall was arraigned in juvenile court Wednesday and said through his attorney that he was sorry for what happened.
The slight teen wore a green sweatshirt and green pants, looked straight ahead at the judge during the proceeding and did not turn around to acknowledge his parents, who were in the room.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins charged the teen on Tuesday with attempted murder, assault with a semiautomatic weapon and attempted second-degree robbery. On Wednesday, her office added several gun-related charges.
Her office has not decided whether try the juvenile as an adult, saying they need time to investigate further and, if appropriate, petition the court to transfer the case to adult court. California law prevents prosecutors from charging a minor as an adult without judicial approval.
EXCLUSIVE: SF DA explains teen suspect’s attempted murder charge in shooting of 49ers’ Pearsall
The teen’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Bob Dunlap, told reporters after the hearing that he is very sorry about what happened.
“He’s genuinely very sorry that this did happen, as is his family, and I can say on their behalf, as well as on my own behalf, our thoughts go out to the Pearsall family and Mr. Pearsall himself. So there is genuine, genuine remorse in that regard,” Dunlap said. “He is a young boy.”
A probation officer recommended the teen stay in custody and be transferred to his home county of San Joaquin, where he has another matter pending. But Superior Court Judge Roger C. Chan said the teen will stay in San Francisco custody.
Family members of both the teen and Pearsall were in the room Wednesday, Chan said.
49ers’ John Lynch gives update on Ricky Pearsall after San Francisco shooting: ‘Fortunate young man’
The daylight shooting Saturday of a professional athlete in an upscale shopping district downtown put the national spotlight again on a city that struggled with brazen shoplifting, empty storefronts and assaults on Asian American seniors. Mayor London Breed, a Democrat, is in a tight reelection contest in November.
Pearsall, 23, was walking alone to his car shortly after 3:30 p.m. Saturday after shopping at luxury stores in Union Square when the suspect allegedly saw the NFL player was wearing a Rolex watch. A struggle ensued, and gunfire from the suspect’s firearm struck both Pearsall and the teenager, who was shot in the arm, police said.
The 49ers rookie was shot through the chest at close range, officials said. His mother, Erin Pearsall, posted on social media that the bullet went through the right side of her son’s chest and out his back without striking any vital organs.
SFPD officer recounts rushing to aid 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall after he was shot
Pearsall was released Sunday from the San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
He was back at the team facility on Monday, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said Tuesday. The Niners placed Pearsall on the non-football injury list, giving him time to recover from the shooting and a shoulder injury that had limited him all summer, Lynch said.
The teen lives in Tracy, a city about 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of San Francisco.
He was arrested about a block away from where he allegedly confronted Pearsall.
Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
San Francisco, CA
NY Jets will face the full strength San Francisco 49ers to open season
Research (and common sense) would suggest that deadlines are strong motivators of behavior.
Current case in point, the San Francisco 49ers ended two holdouts just days before the first game of the season, locking up left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for the next few seasons.
Combine those with the contract given earlier this offseason to running back Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers have essentially managed to run back all of the key players that led them to the Super Bowl just last season.
So after all that, it sounds like the 49ers will have McCaffrey, Williams and Aiyuk for the Jets game on Monday. Waiting on word if Montana and Rice are returning as well.
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) September 3, 2024
Now there are two ways to look at this as a New York Jets fan whose team will square off against the 49ers next Monday.
- That it would’ve been a much easier game had even one of these players opted to skip it.
- That it now operates as a much better measuring stick of how good the new look New York Jets actually are.
This game is now harder to win for the Jets and there really isn’t any reason to argue otherwise. However, if the Jets can win then there won’t be any space for analysts, fans, or anyone else to explain away why this doesn’t mean that the New York Jets are actually that good because they’re seeing the 49ers at their best rather than with backups in key spots.
As the expression goes “to be the man, you’ve gotta beat the man.” And the 49ers have now set the Jets up with a chance to do just that by getting these deals done in time for Week 1. Now it’s time for the Jets to make good on all that offseason hope and show that they’re ready to compete with the best.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco DA charges teen in shooting of 49ers player Ricky Pearsall
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San Francisco, CA
San Francisco mayoral candidates debate fallout from Ricky Pearsall shooting
SAN FRANCISCO – The impact of the daylight robbery attempt and shooting of San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall continues to reverberate throughout the city.
Mayor London Breed acknowledged that it is another high-profile incident for a city that is attempting to change perceptions about out-of-control crime.
She said that as shocking as the incident was, her recent push to support law enforcement played a role in the quick capture of the 17-year-old suspect from Tracy. The mayor pointed to recent data showing crime trending downward.
“But, I want to say, because everyone says it: when something happens to you, all that number stuff goes out the door,” said Breed. “I totally understand that. But, we are not letting up, and the fact is, what we put in place worked, and it sends a strong message that if you come to San Francisco and commit these crimes you will be arrested.”
Former Mayor Mark Farrell, who hopes to unseat Breed, described the shooting as yet another high-profile black eye for San Francisco. He said it’s a sign that new leadership with an eye on public safety is needed.
“She defunded the police department three years ago,” said Farrell. “Stripped $120 million out of our police department budget. Has mismanaged our police department, where now overtime is getting capped and cut and is now blocking reform of our police commission that is making it harder for police officers to do their work on the streets of San Francisco. I’m running for mayor because I’m going to change that.”
Daniel Lurie said the shooting is a clear indication that previous city leaders have failed. He plans to expand police staffing so that residents and visitors feel safe.
“In order for us to be able to draw conventions back, to draw tourism back, and to build our brand again globally, we have a lot of work to do and the people I’m running against have created this perception, this sense of disorder,” said Lurie.
District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí lauded the swift action of the officers on the scene. He noted that’s why he has advocated for creative ways to increase police staffing, adding that recent data showing that crime is down does not make anyone feel safer after a high-profile incident like this.
“They want to hear ‘What are you going to do about the problem? How are you going to solve it?’” said Safai. “So, my solution is to get them out of their cars on the street. We have the overtime to pay for it, and secondly, to get those numbers back up, let’s give incentives like student loan forgiveness to make them want to work in San Francisco.”
Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, also running for mayor, told KTVU in a statement that read in part, “Turning this into a political football doesn’t make San Francisco safer or represent who we are as a city… I’m representing by focusing on real public safety solutions: retaining 50 experienced officers at less cost than overtime via Prop F and legislating my College to Community Policing recruitment plan with forgivable loans.”
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