Ricky Pearsall Released from Hospital and in 'Good Spirits' After He Was Shot in Chest During Attempted Robbery

San Francisco 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall is in “good spirits” as he recovers from a chest wound he sustained in an attempted robbery, according to his mom.

“Update on my baby boy. First and [foremost] I want to thank GOD for protecting my baby boy. He is extremely lucky, GOD shielded him,” Erin Pearsall wrote in a Facebook post that was screenshotted and reposted by The Athletic’s David Lombardi on Sunday, Sept. 1.

The NFL rookie’s mom went on to share that the bullet that entered Ricky’s chest during the Aug. 31 incident “exited out his back,” missing his vital organs.

“He is in good spirits right now,” Erin added of the 23-year-old. “Life is so precious my friends. Please love [each other]. My son was spared today by the grace of GOD 🙏. Please pray for my baby 🙏❤️.”

Hours after his mother’s update, ESPN reported that Ricky has been released from San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, where he was admitted after the shooting on Aug. 31.

According to the outlet, the wide receiver had been listed as being in "serious but stable condition” and upgraded to "fair condition" on Sunday before he was released later in the day.

Ricky was shot in an attempted robbery in San Francisco's Union Square area at around 3:37 p.m. local time on Aug. 31, according to a news release from the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD).

Officers found the NFL player suffering from injuries, as well as another male subject, whom authorities identified as the suspect.

In a news briefing held after the shooting, SFPD Chief William Scott said that the suspect was a 17-year-old male from Tracy, a city about 60 miles from San Francisco. The teen tried to flee the scene, but officers quickly arrested him, per Scott.

Both Ricky and the suspect were transported to San Francisco General Hospital for further evaluation.

In its initial news release, the SFPD stated that “a physical altercation ensued” after the suspect attempted to rob the athlete. "A struggle between Mr. Pearsall and the suspect ensued and gunfire from the suspect's gun struck both Mr. Pearsall and the subject," Scott later added.

Scott initially declined to tell reporters what the suspect attempted to steal, noting that the department was not yet certain. Supervisor Aaron Peskin told The Los Angeles Times that it was Ricky's Rolex watch.

Peskin, who represents San Francisco’s Union Square district, said police told him that the teen tried to rob the player of his watch, but “Ricky wasn’t having any of it."

There was "no indication" that the suspect targeted the 49ers rookie — who had been headed to a signing event when the incident occurred, per FOX 40 — because he is a professional football player, Scott told reporters.

The suspect is in custody and charges are pending at this time, and the investigation is ongoing and active, police said. 

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At the 2024 NFL draft, Ricky was the 49ers’ first-round pick, and the 31st-overall pick. He previously played for the Arizona State Sun Devils before transferring to the University of Florida for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

After the rookie was injured on Saturday, the 49ers shared a statement asking people to “please respect his privacy at this time.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Ricky and the entire Pearsall family,” the team's statement concluded.