LeBron James was Ricky Pearsall’s online supporter after the NFL rookie was shot during an attempted robbery in San Francisco on Saturday.
Pearsall, who was selected in the NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers in April, was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery in San Francisco’s Union Square.
The 17-year-old suspect allegedly picked Pearsall out for his Rolex, rather than his status as an NFL player. They were arrested on the spot and are now in custody.
NBA icon James was one of many athletes who rallied behind the wide receiver after news of the terrifying incident broke.
“Facts bro!! Home, work, and back home! Prayers for Ricky Pearsall,” the Lakers legend wrote alongside the three prayer hands emoji when responding to a post that said the incident had caused the user to want to stay home.
LeBron James (L) led online support for Ricky Pearsall (R) after the NFL rookie was shot
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, wasn’t the only one showing his support online. Pearsall’s 49ers teammates also sent him well wishes.
“Great news,” said wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who agreed to a four-year, $120 million contract extension with San Francisco this week, along with multiple praying emojis.
Fellow wideout Deebo Samuel added: “He’s good. Thank God!!!!”
According to police, Pearsall was caught wearing his Rolex watch after shopping at a nearby expensive department store.
Authorities said the attempted robbery failed when the 17-year-old suspect was shot from his own gun during a struggle with Pearsall, who refused to surrender.
The suspect suffered a hand or arm injury and is in stable condition at San Francisco General Hospital as he awaits charges, police said. Pearsall suffered a chest injury and is in serious but stable condition at the same facility.
Police released a statement late Saturday night describing the incident.
“On August 31, 2024, at approximately 3:37 p.m., officers with the San Francisco Police Department responded to a report of a shooting in the area of Geary Street and Grant Avenue,” the statement provided to DailyMail.com read. “Upon arrival, officers located two male subjects who were injured. Officers rendered aid and medics transported both subjects to a local hospital for further medical evaluation.
The NBA icon was joined by 49ers stars Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk in support
“During the preliminary investigation, officers learned that one of the suspects attempted to rob the victim, San Francisco 49ers player Ricky Pearsall. During the attempted robbery, a physical altercation ensued, resulting in injuries to both the suspect and victim. The suspect is in custody and charges are pending.”
Mayor London Breed called the shooting a “horrific and rare incident in Union Square.”
Breed called the incident a “setback” for an area where crime actually fell in 2024.
“Sometimes the data goes out the window when something like this happens,” Breed said, as quoted by the Chronicle.
San Francisco has been plagued by shootings for years, though Breed boasted in April that violent crime was down 14 percent compared to the same period in 2023. According to City Hall, gun violence was down 38 percent in the first quarter of 2024.
During the pandemic, violent crime in San Francisco has skyrocketed, with 56 and 48 murders in 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Chronicle reporters saw five shell casings at the crime scene, where Pearsall was reportedly shopping moments earlier.
A witness told the Chronicle that blood was streaming down Pearsall’s left arm.
Pearsall moved slowly during the footage, which was shot from across the street. He didn’t appear overly upset.
“It was a terrifying situation,” the witness, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Chronicle.
Pearsall was actually seen walking away after the shooting on Saturday.
As seen in a video shared by KTVU’s Zak Sos on X, the injured Pearsall was carried by emergency workers to a waiting ambulance, where he was placed on a stretcher. Pearsall moved slowly during the footage, which was shot from across the street. He didn’t appear overly distressed, but he did cover his chest area.
KGO-TV’s Dion Lim reported that Pearsall signed autographs at Cow Palace before heading downtown to shop at Union Square. Lim’s sources say he was at a high-end designer store just before he was shot.
