SAN FRANCISCO:After being charged with attempted murder in the daylight shooting of San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall over the weekend, a 17-year-old high school senior made amends through his attorney during his arraignment in juvenile court on Wednesday.
Wearing green hoodie and green jeans, the small kid stared straight ahead at the judge throughout the proceedings, not even turning to recognize his parents who were present.
The teenager was charged on Tuesday by San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins with attempted second-degree robbery, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and attempted murder. Her office added more gun-related charges on Wednesday.
Her office says they need more time to look into the matter and, if necessary, ask the court to move the case to adult court, but they haven’t determined whether to trial the minor as an adult. Prosecutors cannot charge a kid as an adult in California without a judge’s approval.
After the court, the teen’s lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Bob Dunlap, told reporters that the young person is truly sorry.
“He and his family are truly sorry that this occurred, and I can express on their behalf and mine that our condolences are extended to the Pearsall family and Mr. Pearsall personally,” Dunlap stated. Therefore, there is sincere regret in that regard. He’s just a young boy.
The teenager has another case pending in his native county of San Joaquin, so a probation officer suggested that he remain in detention. However, the teenager will remain in San Francisco custody, according to Superior Court Judge Roger C. Chan.
Chan reported that Pearsall’s and the teen’s families were present in the room on Wednesday.
The daytime shooting The shooting on Saturday of a professional athlete in a posh downtown retail area brought the city—which has battled with blatant thievery, vacant businesses, and attacks on Asian American seniors—back into the national spotlight. Democrat London Breed is running a close race for reelection in November.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Pearsall, 23, was heading alone to his car from shopping at upscale establishments in Union Square when the suspect reportedly noticed the NFL player was sporting a Rolex watch. Following a scuffle, Pearsall and the adolescent were hit by gunshot from the suspect’s firearm; the teenager sustained an arm wound, according to the police.
According to officials, the 49ers rookie was shot close to the chest. Erin Pearsall, his mother, wrote on social media that her son’s bullet passed through his chest on the right side and out of his back, missing no important organs.
On Sunday, Pearsall was discharged from the Trauma Center and General Hospital in San Francisco.
About 60 miles east of San Francisco, in the city of Tracy, resides the teenager.
He was apprehended not too far from the location where he was supposed to face Pearsall.
