Ricky Pearsall’s mother says bullet from attempted robbery missed 49ers rookie’s vital organs

Ricky Pearsall’s mother said in a Facebook post that the bullet that struck her son in the chest Saturday afternoon during an attempted robbery in San Francisco’s Union Square missed his vital organs.

Pearsall, the 49ers’ first-round pick in this spring’s NFL draft, was taken to San Francisco General in serious but stable condition, the team confirmed Saturday night.

“He is extremely lucky, GOD shielded him,” Erin Pearsall wrote in a post that she has since deleted. “He was shot in the chest and it exited out his back. Thanks be to GOD it missed his vital organs.”

San Francisco Chief of Police William Scott said Saturday night that both Pearsall, 23, and the 17-year-old male suspect who attempted to rob him were struck by bullets from the same gun, carried by the teen from Tracy. Scott noted that multiple shots were fired during a struggle between the suspect and Pearsall, but declined to give much more information, citing the ongoing investigation.

Pearsall was seen on video from KTVU’s Zak Sos walking under his own power and protecting an apparent wound on the right side of his chest.

Erin Pearsall said Ricky is in good spirits, but asked for prayers for him.

The shooting happened just after 3:30 p.m. on Geary Street near Grant Street, Scott said Saturday night in a news conference outside the hospital where both Pearsall and the suspect were being treated. The police chief said officers stopped the suspect as he fled the scene.

Pearsall grew up in Chandler, Arizona and played football at Arizona State for three years before transferring to Florida, where he played the last two seasons. The 49ers selected him No. 31 overall in April’s draft.