SAN FRANCISCO — A 17-year-old high school senior charged with attempted murder in the weekend shooting death of San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was arraigned in juvenile court Wednesday and said through his attorney that he was sorry for what happened.
The teenager, wearing a green sweatshirt and green pants, looked directly at the judge during the proceedings and did not turn to greet his parents, who were in the courtroom.
On Tuesday, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins charged the teen with attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic weapon and attempted second-degree robbery. On Wednesday, her office added several firearms-related charges.
His office has not decided whether to try the juvenile as an adult, saying it needs time to investigate further and, if appropriate, ask the court to transfer the case to adult court. California law prevents prosecutors from charging a juvenile as an adult without court approval.
The teen's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Bob Dunlap, told reporters after the hearing that he is deeply sorry about what happened.
“He's genuinely very sorry for what happened, as is his family, and I can say on their behalf, as well as my own, that our thoughts are with the Pearsall family and with Mr. Pearsall himself. So there's genuine, genuine remorse in that regard,” Dunlap said. “He's a young boy.”
A probation officer recommended that the teen remain in custody and be transferred to his home county of San Joaquin, where he has another pending matter. But Superior Court Judge Roger C. Chan said the teen will remain in San Francisco custody.
Relatives of the teen and Pearsall were in the room Wednesday, Chan said.
Saturday's broad-daylight shooting of a professional athlete in an upscale downtown shopping district put national attention back on a city grappling with rampant shoplifting, vacant storefronts and assaults on elderly Asian Americans.
Pearsall, 23, was walking alone to his car shortly after 3:30 p.m. Saturday after shopping at high-end stores in Union Square when the suspect allegedly spotted the NFL player reaching for his Rolex watch. A struggle ensued and shots from the suspect's handgun struck both Pearsall and the teen, who was shot in the arm, police said.
The 49ers rookie was shot in the chest at close range, authorities said. His mother, Erin Pearsall, posted on social media that the bullet went through the right side of her son's chest and exited through his back without hitting any vital organs.
Pearsall was released Sunday from San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said Tuesday that Pearsall was back at the team facility on Monday. 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 teenager lives in Tracy, a city about 60 miles east of San Francisco.
He was arrested a block from where he allegedly confronted Pearsall.
