SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall says he was unsure of his fate after he was shot in the chest during an armed robbery last year near San Francisco's Union Square.
«My adrenaline was rushing. I didn't feel, really, much pain at all. It was just more of like a burning sensation,» Pearsall told ESPN in a sit-down interview. «I'm very religious. I'm a Christian. I just didn't know if I was going to go to heaven or hell.
»I definitely thought about my family… not knowing if I was going to tell my family I love them again."
Recounting the Aug. 31, 2024, situation in-depth for the first time, Pearsall said he saw in his peripheral vision someone approaching him as he opened the back of his car to place shopping bags inside his vehicle.
Pearsall, who earlier in the day hosted a nearby autograph signing, said he initially thought the person was a fan.
«Then, I analyzed the situation and was like, 'OK, this guy doesn't really look like a fan at all,'» Pearsall said. «He was in all black, hoodie on, and he obviously had his gun out immediately.»
A physical altercation took place before the suspect shot Pearsall once in the chest and fled the scene. The suspect, 17 years old at the time, was arrested shortly after by police.
«I had a sleeveless shirt on and, like, the hole was very visual, blood coming out everywhere,» Pearsall said.
Pearsall, 25, said he saw no one around to help him until San Francisco Police Sergeant Joelle Harrell, who was blocks away patrolling the area on foot, arrived first on the scene.
«I had a sense of relief when I saw Joelle, for sure, when she patched me up,» Pearsall said. «We just took a moment to just breathe and pray and hearing her voice telling me I'm going to be
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