49ers' Ricky Pearsall released from hospital after being shot in San Francisco robbery attempt: team
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco 49ers' rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was out of the hospital one day after being shot in the chest during a robbery-gone-wrong, the team announced on Sunday.
Lots of get well wishes came from across the Bay Area and the country for Pearsall.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed said it's a setback for the Union Square shopping district, but she says plenty of officers were on duty when the shooting occurred.
"We're so grateful that he's ok and doing well," Breed said.
She sent get well wishes to 23-year-old Pearsall.
The San Francisco 49ers confirmed via a statement that, "Ricky Pearsall was released from the hospital this (Sunday) afternoon as he continues to recover from a bullet wound to his chest."
PREVIOUS STORY: San Francisco 49ers' Ricky Pearsall shot in attempted robbery at Union Square, authorities confirm
Lebron James posted on X, "Facts bro! Home, work, and back home. Prayers to Ricky Pearsall."
Pearsall was in Union Square on Saturday afternoon after signing autographs at the Cow Palace.
Police say, a 17-year-old suspect confronted Pearsall and pulled out a gun. Both were wounded during the robbery attempt.
"A 17-year-old from Tracy, all of the situation around this is suspicious from my perspective. I'd say, it's suspicious from all the police officers in Union Square on Saturday, something like this would occur," Breed said.
It's unclear what Breed meant by that comment.
VIDEO: 49ers' Ricky Pearsall escorted to ambulance after San Francisco shooting
Breed said extra officers are being deployed to the area Sunday. We saw many officers in cruisers and on foot.
"Our officers were on scene in less than a minute, able to make an arrest," Breed said.
Breed denies the upscale shopping district was understaffed at the time of the shooting on Saturday.
"Over the holiday weekend, they were officers all around Union Square, more so than any other community in the city," she said.
The San Francisco Police Officers Association said in statement, "Given our severe staffing crisis, the department is still experiencing a severe staffing shortage, there's only so much we can do. This is just another reason why we need to implement strategies to retain our veteran officers quickly."
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"The scariest part is that it was 3 p.m. in the afternoon, not at night," said Oskar Hage from Sweden.
His family said they'd heard stories about San Francisco being unsafe, a reputation city officials are trying to repair.
"That's what we chose to stay in this area at a hotel, because it was kind of the safer part. But I guess not anymore maybe," he said.
The 17-year-old from Tracy is in custody awaiting charges. Police say the crime was random and that Pearsall was not targeted for being a Niner.
