Judge rules teen will be tried as a juvenile in Pearsall shooting

A San Francisco judge ruled Friday that the teenager charged in the shooting of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will be tried as a juvenile rather than in adult court.

The August 2024 incident unfolded as Pearsall, alone, walked to his car after shopping in Union Square, when the suspect approached with a handgun during an attempted robbery. Authorities said Pearsall was targeted for his Rolex watch and other expensive jewelry. A struggle ensued, and gunfire from the suspect struck Pearsall and wounded the teenager, who was shot in the arm. The suspect was arrested about a block away from the scene. The teen was 17 at the time of the shooting and is now 18.

The San Francisco District Attorney's Office had sought to transfer the case to adult court, arguing that Pearsall could have died and that the stakes were higher in the adult system if the defendant were convicted. The defense argued for juvenile treatment, citing the defendant's background and ongoing rehabilitation.

The teen's attorney said the defendant has faced abuse and trauma in the home and within the foster care system. Deputy Public Defender Bob Dunlap described his client as a model prisoner while in juvenile detention, noting he formed a book club, earned a high school diploma and enrolled in community college. Friday's ruling came after a weeklong hearing to determine whether the case would proceed in juvenile or adult court.

The decision means the case will proceed within the juvenile system, with hearings and potential outcomes governed by California juvenile law. Pearsall, who was attending to his professional career with the 49ers, remains a figure in a case that drew attention to violence linked to robberies targeting high-profile individuals in the city.