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Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff WriterAug 31, 2024, 08:49 PM ET
- Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL at ESPN since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In his 10 years with the company, Nick has led ESPN’s coverage of the Niners’ 2019 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick’s protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam’s subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team’s relocation and stadium saga. You can follow Nick via Twitter @nwagoner
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest Saturday afternoon in downtown San Francisco during an attempted robbery.
In a statement released Saturday evening, the 49ers said Pearsall is in “serious but stable condition” after sustaining a bullet wound to his chest. The suspect, a 17-year old male from Tracy, Calif., has been arrested, according to San Francisco Police Chief William Scott.
According to the San Francisco Fire Department, a 911 call at 3:38 p.m. local time reported shots fired at the corner of Geary and Grant streets, a block away from San Francisco’s Union Square. Police arrived shortly after.
Pearsall was signing autographs at an event center earlier in the afternoon and had headed to Union Square after, according to ABC 7 San Francisco.
According to the San Francisco Police Department, a physical altercation between Pearsall and the suspect ensued during the attempted robbery and both were injured. Pearsall and the suspect were later transported to San Francisco General Hospital.
Scott said Saturday night that there was “no indication” that the suspect had targeted Pearsall because he is a professional football player and added that there was one gun involved with multiple shots fired during the attempted robbery. Scott said that the suspect was acting alone “as far as we know” but said that the many surveillance cameras in the area would be checked as the investigation continues.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed confirmed that Pearsall is in stable condition. Scott added that Pearsall had been alert enough to speak to police about the shooting but there would be further dialogue as Pearsall recovers.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said a charging decision on the suspect, whom she noted is a juvenile, will be made on Tuesday or Wednesday.
“Thankfully, our hard-working officers made a swift arrest in this case and we will do everything within our power to ensure justice is served,” Scott said in a statement.
Fellow 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. posted that “he’s good …Thank god” in reference to Pearsall and the team said its “thoughts and prayers are with Ricky and the entire Pearsall family.”
The Niners selected Pearsall with the No. 31 pick in April’s NFL draft out of the University of Florida.
