Ricky Pearsall: Boy in court after NFL player shot for ‘expensive watch’

A teenager has appeared in court after being charged with the attempted murder and robbery of San Francisco 49ers player Ricky Pearsall, who was shot on Saturday.

The 17-year-old, whose case is currently being heard in juvenile court, was arrested near the scene of the incident in San Francisco’s Union Square.

Pearsall, 23, was pictured shirtless at the scene with a bullet wound to the chest. He was taken to hospital and released the following day.

The wide receiver is expected to miss the first several games of his debut season for the 49ers, but the NFL team’s general manager said it was “nothing short of miraculous” that his injuries were not worse.

John Lynch told reporters on Tuesday his player was doing “remarkably well”.

Pearsall had been signing autographs at an event before heading to the square where the incident occurred, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

He was targeted for his “expensive watch”, the newspaper quoted police as saying. A struggle ensued, during which Pearsall was shot.

The footage shared online showed the footballer being walked to an ambulance by paramedics and sitting on a gurney as he held a shirt to his chest.

In the aftermath, his mother wrote on social media to suggest Pearsall had been “shot in the chest and [the bullet] exited out his back”. She added: “Thanks be to GOD it missed his vital organs.”

Police said the suspect, too, was injured. His current condition has not been disclosed.

The suspect, who has not been named due to his age, is from the city of Tracy, 60 miles (96km) east of San Francisco.

The teenager appeared in court on Wednesday and was ordered to be held in custody.

His lawyer told reporters that his client was shot through the arm with his own gun during the struggle.

Lawyer Bob Dunlap said the boy is in his final year of high school, has no prior criminal record and is remorseful for the incident.

He has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm and attempted second-degree robbery, said San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins.

Ms Jenkins said she would retain the option to ask the judge to transfer the case to an adult court if the juvenile system was deemed “not equipped” to rehabilitate the alleged offender.

Pearsall was a first-round pick by the 49ers in April’s NFL draft – when the best college players are chosen to join the league.