Why is Ricky Pearsall shooter not being named, following attempted murder charges?

A suspect has been charged in connection with the shooting of San Francisco 49ers player Ricky Pearsall last Saturday.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced on Tuesday that a 17-year-old from Tracy, California has been arrested and charged with attempted murder, along with numerous other charges.

As the teenaged suspect is still a minor his name has not yet been made public. If he is found guilty at trial, the judge may choose to release more information. For now, the charges have been filed at juvenile court but the case could still be transferred to adult court if the judge deems it appropriate.

How long could the Ricky Pearsall shooter get in jail?

In the state of California a conviction for first-degree attempted murder receives a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison. In the case of a second-degree attempted murder - not premeditated, as may well be the case in the Pearsall incident - sentencing typically varies between five and nine years.

The suspect’s age, however, would have a major baring on any sentencing if convicted. If dealt with as a minor the suspect would be very unlikely to receive such a long sentence. However DA Jenkins has already indicated that he could push for the defendant to be tried as an adult.

“What I indicated in 2022 is that there are five crime types for 16 and 17-year-olds, for which we would consider potentially seeking to transfer them to adult court,” Jenkins explained on Tuesday. “Attempted murder is one of those charges. And so again, it was for consideration.”

Jenkins added that the teenaged suspect was expected to be arraigned at the Youth Guidance Center in San Francisco on Wednesday, September 4 at 1:30pm. A date for the court case has not yet been set. Pearsall has already been released from hospital and returned to the team’s practice facility on Tuesday.