SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced the charges she’s filing against the 17-year-old accused of shooting 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall in Union Square.
DA Jenkins says the teen will be charged with attempted murder, assault with a semi automatic fire arm, second-degree attempted robbery and several gun charges.
Investigators believe the teen followed Pearsall from his parked Tesla, and they were both shot in the scuffle on Saturday.
ABC7 News reporter J.R. Stone sat down with Jenkins in a one-on-one interview Tuesday night.
“Is attempted murder the strongest charge you could have filed in this case?” asked Stone.
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“Yes, it does appear to be the most serious charge that is eligible based on these facts,” responded Jenkins.
Monday’s bullet holes could still be seen in at least three spots on the side of a building and in the area where Pearsall was shot in a scuffle during an attempted robbery.
On Tuesday, Jenkins was bold about holding the suspect and others in similar cases accountable.
“I want it to be clear that San Francisco is not a safe haven for criminal behavior. I know that there was a time period where people thought that lawlessness was something we were going to tolerate. Those days are over,” said Jenkins.
But it is still unclear if Jenkins will try to prosecute the minor as an adult. In California, a DA wanting to do that must request a transfer hearing to an adult court, which requires a juvenile court judge’s ruling.
VIDEO: SFPD officer recounts rushing to aid 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall after he was shot
A witness and a San Francisco police officer describe the moment 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall was shot, and coming to his aid.
In 2022, Jenkins announced a new policy for 16 and 17-year-olds to be charged as adults in “heinous” crimes.
“Do you look at this case as a heinous case?” asked Stone.
DA Jenkins responded, “The prior district attorney had a policy that he would never seek to try a juvenile as an adult. I came in saying we have to put options on the table for certain types of crime and attempted murder is included in the type of crime that I have said this office will potentially consider whether or not we think it’s appropriate to transfer a juvenile to adult court.”
The suspect’s first court appearance will happen Wednesday afternoon. Jenkins says the decision on whether or not to request a transfer to an adult court will take at least two weeks to be made.
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