Ricky Pearsall ‘gets gunned down for his Rolex in crime-ridden San Francisco’ a week before his NFL rookie’s first game for the 49ers
- Pearsall was reportedly shot during a robbery in the city’s Union Square
- The 23-year-old rookie is now in stable condition and the suspect is in custody
- Pearsall was scheduled to play his first game for the 49ers on September 9 against the Jets
San Francisco 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall was shot during a robbery in the city’s Union Square, according to police.
Pearsall is now in stable condition and a suspect has been arrested, said Precinct 3 Chief Aaron Peskin. told the local NBC station.
The first-year recipient was allegedly attacked for his Rolex watch. There are also unconfirmed claims that Pearsall was at a signature campaign at or around the time the shooting occurred.
The 23-year-old Arizona native is just a week removed from his first NFL game against the New York Jets on Sept. 9, though his status for that game has already been clouded by a shoulder injury. Pearsall was selected with the 31st pick of the NFL Draft in April after playing college games at Arizona State and Florida.
A 49ers spokesman did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
According to KGO-TV, San Francisco 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall was shot during a robbery in the city’s Union Square.
San Francisco has been plagued by shootings for years, though Mayor London N. Breed boasted in April that violent crime had dropped 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.
Pearsall was performing well during training camp before suffering his shoulder injury.
Starting receiver Brandon Aiyuk had to sit out until this week, but the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Pearsall impressed coaches and teammates with his craftsmanship.
“I don’t like to compliment rookies, but I like his game,” cornerback Isaac Yiadom said in early August, as quoted by the Associated Press. “I think he’s got some confidence, too. He’s got some grit in him, so he knows it. He knows he’s pretty good. I just hope he keeps working. That’s what I like about him. He just goes to work. He just keeps his mouth shut and he just goes to work.”
Coach Kyle Shannahan’s offense has a reputation for being tough on young players, especially receivers, but Pearsall seemed to understand the system.
“I think I’ve made some big strides since I’ve been here,” Pearsall said. “It was a little tough at first. Coming into an offense like this, it’s a complex thing, there’s a lot to it. Trying to learn everything in one day is impossible. So I told myself I could do that over and over and over again, how to get better and know the playbook.”
