San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall met with the teenage assailant who shot him during an attempted robbery before the season started, hoping to “forgive” him and “unburden himself.” There is.
San Francisco's 2024 first-round draft pick made the comment to reporters as he and his teammates cleaned out their lockers after a disappointing 2024-2025 season in which the Niners missed the playoffs for the first time in a while.
“I don't know how he grew up,” Pearsall said of the teenager who was shot on the street in San Francisco on his way to an autograph signing. “You can't judge him as a person just by his actions. It was as violent as it was a crime, but God forbid he would do that to anyone else.”
The assailant demanded Pearsall's watch, and when the former Florida Gator refused to hand over the watch, he shot Pearsall at close range. The young man is charged with attempted murder, attempted second-degree robbery and assault with a semi-automatic weapon.
Pearsall said of the 17-year-old who shot him: “I have to be able to forgive him so I can take a weight off my chest.” “I think if I could one day talk to that kid and influence him in some way, that would be really big.”
Pearsall met with first responders who came to help. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to meet his assailant.
