Officer Reveals Scary Moments After Ricky Pearsall Shooting

A police officer detailed the scary moments after San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot during an attempted robbery over the weekend .

San Francisco Police Department Sgt. Joelle Harrell told the San Francisco Chronicle she was nearby the scene and sprinted over after hearing gunshots fired on Saturday (August 31). Pearsall, 23, who was shot in the chest by a 17-year-old, was found shirtless and covered in blood when Harrell rushed over, instructing another officer to call an ambulance before pressing the victim's shirt into his wound in the front while pressing her cap into his wound in the back, according to the police report.

“I was using my hand for the front just to create a suction so the air wouldn’t enter the wound,” Harrell told the San Francisco Chronicle .

Harrell said she asked Pearsall questions about the shooter and attempted to reassure him while providing aid, acknowledging that he asked her if he was going to die before the two began praying together while waiting for an ambulance to arrive, her husband, Sgt. Frank Harrell , said she told him.

“Be strong, like you’re on the field,” Frank Harrell told the San Francisco Chronicle .

The suspect reportedly spotted Pearsall shopping at Rimowa and Louis Vuitton in the Union Square area and wearing an expensive watch while walking back to his Tesla vehicle prior to the incident. The rookie was released from the hospital Sunday (September 1) afternoon hours after the shooting, the Niners announced in a statement shared on its website .

"San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was released from the hospital this afternoon as he continues to recover from a bullet wound to his chest,"n the Niners said. "He and his family, along with the entire San Francisco 49ers organization, would like to thank the San Francisco Police Department, emergency medical services, doctors and staff at San Francisco General Hospital."

Pearsall's mother, Erin , confirmed that her son was "shot in the chest" but the bullet "exited his back" in a post shared on her Facebook account that was re-shared by David Lombardi of the Athletic .

"Update on my baby boy. First and far most I want to thank God for protecting my baby boy. He is extremely lucky, GOD shielding him. He was shot in the chest and it exited out his back. Thanks be to GOD it missed his vital organs. He is in good spirits right now. Life is so precious my friends. Please love eachother. My son was spared today by the grace of GOD. Please pray for my baby," Erin wrote.

The Niners previously confirmed that Pearsall was "in serious but stable condition" after being "the victim of an attempted robbery and shooting" in a statement shared on its official website and social media accounts on Saturday.

"San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was the victim of an attempted robbery and shooting this afternoon," the Niners said. "He sustained a bullet wound to his chest and is in serious but stable condition. We ask that you please respect his privacy at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ricky and the entire Pearsall family."

The Niners' update came after fellow wide receiver Deebo Samuel wrote "he's good...thank God" amid speculation of Pearsall's status after the reported shooting.

Pearsall was selected by the Niners at No. 31 overall in the first-round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Arizona native spent his first three collegiate seasons at Arizona State before transferring to the University of Florida, recording a career-best 65 receptions for 965 yards, as well as four touchdowns, in 2023.

Pearsall was ruled inactive for the Niners' three preseason games due to a shoulder injury and limited to just 19 of the team's training camp practices, but had recovered and was competing for playing time prior to San Francisco's upcoming Week 1 Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Jets on September 9 prior to the shooting.