San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot during an attempted robbery in San Francisco on Saturday, authorities said.
Mayor London Breed said on social media platform X that the attack took place in the Union Square community in the center of downtown.
“SFPD was on scene immediately and an arrest of the shooter was made,” the mayor said, referring to the San Francisco Police Department.
In a statement, San Francisco police said officers responded to a report of a shooting at Geary Street and Grant Avenue in the heart of the Union Square community about 3:37 p.m. and found two people who had been injured after an altercation.
“One of the subjects attempted to rob the victim, San Francisco 49ers player Ricky Pearsall,” the department said. “During the attempted robbery, a physical altercation ensued, and both the suspect and victim were injured. The suspect is in custody and charges are pending at this time.”
The department said both Pearsall and a suspect were hospitalized; it did not provide Pearsall’s condition. Citing information from San Francisco County Supervisor Aaron Peskin, NBC Bay Area reported that Pearsall, a rookie drafted by the 49ers in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, was stabilized at a hospital.
Pearsall’s agent and representatives for the 49ers and the NFL did not immediately respond to requests for information Saturday night.
“My thoughts are with Ricky and his family at this time,” Breed said, adding that more details will come “as I receive them.”
The high-profile attack came as crime and homelessness in San Francisco have become paramount topics in local politics.
Peskin, the San Francisco County supervisor, is challenging Breed for the mayorship of the city. He has supported tough-on-crime stances, including arresting drug dealers, while also pushing for treatment of users and seeing crime as a society-wide issue rather than as a problem only police can solve.
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