San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was recently shot during a robbery attempt. While he is expected to make a full recovery, some sad details have emerged surrounding the incident.
This week, it was revealed that the alleged shooter is just 17 years old and is still in high school.
A senior in high school, the suspect is being charged with attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic weapon, and attempted second-degree robbery, along with added gun-related charges.
The teen’s legal representative is hoping to gain some compassion on account of his youth.
“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,” the suspect’s lawyer, Bob Dunlap, said. “He is a young boy.”
Luckily, Pearsall, who was shot in the chest, was released from San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center on Sunday. The team General Manager, John Lynch, says that Pearsall is expected to play this season, although he will have to miss at least four games due to his placement on the non-football injury list.
It’s great that he’s making a full recovery, but it’s undeniably sad that a high schooler was involved in such a violent act at such a young age.