On Friday, Judge Denise de Bellefeuille of Santa Barbara ruled that the teenager suspected in the shooting of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall during a robbery attempt in Union Square last year will be tried as a juvenile, not as an adult. The decision came at the conclusion of a weeklong hearing in San Francisco.
Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle first reported the news of the decision.
The teen faces charges of attempted murder, assault, and attempted second-degree robbery. If convicted as a juvenile, he could serve up to seven additional years in custody. Tried as an adult, he could have faced 40 years to life in prison, according to Ostler.
The ruling capped an emotional day in court. Pearsall's mother, Erin, urged the judge to have the suspect tried as an adult, sharing family photos and describing the attack as a moment that "will haunt me forever."
Public Defender Bob Dunlap argued that the teen had been traumatized by years of abuse and neglect and presented testimony from 14 witnesses who described him as "amenable to rehabilitation." The witnesses highlighted the teen's participation in several programs, high school graduation, and current enrollment at San Francisco City College.
Dunlap also shared a letter the teen wrote to Pearsall, apologizing and stating that he had been praying for him and his family. Judge de Bellefeuille commended the action.
Assistant District Attorney David Mitchell countered, emphasizing the violent and premeditated nature of the crime. He reminded the court that Pearsall, shot in the chest, feared for his life, and recalled thinking, "This is it for me," as he bled heavily.
Pearsall's own compassion for the teen also seemingly factored into the ruling.
"Mr. Pearsall is an incredible human being. You recognize that?" Judge de Bellefeuille told the defendant. "He has expressed compassion for you, he has modeled his faith."
Pearsall has expressed a willingness to meet with the teen.
"I want to first see if he's open to it," Pearsall said in August. "That's also important to me. If he's not open to it, then it's not going to be a thing. Yeah, it's an opportunity I'll probably do moving forward."
The shooting occurred near Geary Street and Grant Avenue as Pearsall, entering his first season with the 49ers, was shopping for luggage and other items. During the attempted robbery, the teen reportedly tried to steal Pearsall's gold chain and watch, leading to a struggle and three shots being fired before the gun jammed. One bullet struck Pearsall in the chest, while another hit the suspect's arm.
"I know he is very grateful, and emotional, and of course very relieved," Dunlap said. "Until about 20 minutes ago, he was looking at life in prison. I think he was afraid, and I'm glad he was afraid, he should have been afraid, and as I said in my comments, I hope he holds onto that."
Pearsall, a first-round draft pick in 2024, missed the first six games of his rookie season as he recovered from his injury. He finished his first NFL campaign with 31 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns.