It was just another Saturday afternoon in San Francisco. August 31, 2024. Most people were thinking about Labor Day weekend plans or the start of the NFL season. Ricky Pearsall, the San Francisco 49ers’ first-round draft pick, was doing what a lot of 23-year-olds do—shopping. He’d just finished up at some luxury stores in the Union Square area and was headed back to his car. He had an autograph signing event later that day.
Then everything went sideways.
Basically, a 17-year-old kid from Tracy, California, saw Pearsall’s Rolex. That’s what started it. This wasn't some planned hit or a targeted attack on a football player. It was a crime of opportunity that turned violent in a heartbeat.
The Scuffle at Geary and Grant
The shooting happened around 3:37 p.m. right near the intersection of Geary Street and Grant Avenue. If you know that area, it’s usually packed with tourists and shoppers. According to the San Francisco Police Department, the teenager approached Pearsall and tried to rob him at gunpoint.
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Ricky Pearsall didn’t just hand it over.
A physical struggle broke out. Honestly, it’s the kind of split-second decision that could have ended a lot worse. During the wrestling match over the gun, the weapon discharged. The bullet hit Pearsall in the chest. Because they were so close, the suspect actually got shot too—struck in the arm by his own gun.
The kid tried to run, but the cops were on him almost immediately. Pearsall, remarkably, stayed on his feet for a bit. There’s actually cell phone footage from bystanders showing him walking to the ambulance, clutching his chest. It’s a chilling image.
Why He’s Still Alive
We talk about "inches" in football, but here, it was millimeters.
Pearsall’s mother, Erin Pearsall, later shared on Facebook that the bullet entered his chest and exited his back without hitting a single vital organ. No heart. No lungs. No spine. Just "through and through." If that bullet is angled even two degrees differently, the 49ers aren't talking about a recovery—they’re planning a funeral.
The trauma team at San Francisco General Hospital and the first responders on the scene were the real MVPs here. Pearsall was listed in "serious but stable" condition initially, but he was actually released from the hospital the very next day.
The Legal Aftermath
The suspect was a high school senior at the time. Because he was 17, the legal battle over how to charge him became a huge local news story. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins wanted to try him as an adult. She argued that attempted murder is a heavy-enough charge to warrant it.
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However, in September 2025, a judge ruled that the case would stay in juvenile court.
The defense argued the teen had a background of trauma and abuse. They also pointed out he’d been a "model prisoner" while in custody—starting a book club and even graduating high school while behind bars. It’s a messy situation. You’ve got a victim who almost died and a kid whose defense says he’s a prime candidate for rehabilitation.
The Return to the Field
Most people thought Pearsall’s rookie season was over before it started. I mean, the guy got shot in the chest in August. But he was back at the 49ers’ facility just days later. He even stood on the sideline for the season opener against the Jets, presenting signed jerseys to the doctor and the police officer who saved him.
He made his actual NFL debut in October 2024.
Now, looking at him in 2025 and early 2026, the road hasn't been perfectly smooth. He’s had a string of "nagging" injuries—hamstrings, ribs, and a persistent knee issue that limited him to about nine games this past season. Some fans wonder if the stress of the shooting or the rushed return played a role in his body breaking down a bit, but Pearsall himself has been pretty vocal about just wanting to play.
What to Watch for Now
If you're following the Niners into the 2026 season, Pearsall is at a bit of a crossroads. He’s shown he can be a lead receiver—he put up over 300 yards in just a four-game stretch recently—but he has to stay on the field.
- Recovery Marker: Keep an eye on his "explosive movement" metrics. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has been blunt about not letting him play until he hits his pre-injury top speeds.
- The Mental Side: Pearsall actually said recently he forgives the person who shot him and even wants to meet him. That tells you a lot about where his head is at.
- Contract Context: He’s on a fully guaranteed $12.35 million rookie deal, so the team has every incentive to get him right rather than just getting him out there.
The "how" of the shooting is simple: a botched robbery over a watch. The "why" he survived is basically a miracle of anatomy. As we head into the 2026 offseason, the focus has finally shifted from the crime to his career.
If you’re tracking his progress, watch the injury reports for "knee" or "groin" labels—those have been the red flags lately. The best way to support a player in this position is to treat them like an athlete again, not just a headline. Check the 49ers' official practice reports during the spring sessions to see if he's participating in full-contact drills without limitations.