NFL player wounded during robbery honors Calif. officer who responded, presents signed jersey during game

By Gabe Fernandez
SFGate, San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO — During the San Francisco 49ers’ season opener, the team honored two of the first responders who helped rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall after he was shot just nine days ago during an attempted robbery in Union Square.

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Among those honored was San Francisco police Sgt. Joelle Harrell, who was the first emergency responder on the scene of the shooting on Aug. 31. Harrell was credited for her heroics as she kept pressure on the 24-year-old’s wounds until an ambulance arrived. The other person honored was Dr. Lucy Kornblith, the surgeon who operated on Pearsall at San Francisco General Hospital.

The three took photos with Pearsall in between offensive series during Monday’s game and were given signed Pearsall jerseys while the Levi’s Stadium crowd applauded. Harrell also received a helmet signed by 49ers players.

49ers general manager John Lynch thanked the sergeant by name last week during his first press conference with reporters following the shooting. When a reporter asked Lynch if Harrell would be in attendance for the season opener, he replied, “I hope so. We’ll stay tuned. I think there’d be some cool stuff.” Harrell was spotted at field level with her family ahead of the game’s opening kickoff.

Pearsall was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list last week, meaning he’ll miss at least the first four games of the season. There is otherwise no confirmed timetable for the return to the field for the Niners’ first-round pick. The 17-year-old suspected of shooting Pearsall was charged with attempted murder last Tuesday.

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