Beloved former Boston Red Sox slugger David “Big Papi” Ortiz was shot in the back Sunday night at a bar in his native Dominican Republic.
In what has every appearance of an ambush, the retired professional baseball player was shot at close range by a man who got off a motorcycle and approached him from behind, the Boston Globe reported.
Security cameras captured the moment of the shooting, although it’s difficult to tell what is happening, other than people scrambling away.
Cámara de seguridad del establecimiento capta momento en el que suenan los tiros hacia David Ortiz y Jhoel López.#elnuevodiariord pic.twitter.com/ZMVv6dOuWs
— El Nuevo Diario (@elnuevodiariord) June 10, 2019
Ortiz, 43, was taken to a clinic and underwent surgery, and his condition was stable, according to Dominican National Police Director Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte.
According to reports, the bullet entered Ortiz’s lower back and exited his stomach.
The former player’s father told reporters outside the clinic his son was out of danger and there wasn’t any collateral damage, meaning there was no damage to any major organs, the Globe reported.
Our thoughts are with David Ortiz, who is reportedly hospitalized after being shot in his hometown of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, per @Enrique_Rojas1. pic.twitter.com/IH3Qjxn0BT
— MLB (@MLB) June 10, 2019
“He is out of surgery and stable; he is resting,” Leo Ortiz said. “Big Papi will be around for a long time.”
The father said he did not know why his son was shot. Local authorities are trying to determine the reason, and there were reports it may have been an attempted robbery.
A local sports journalist, Dionisio Soldevila, reported in a tweet that Ortiz told the ER doctor, “Please don’t let me die, I’m a good man.”
David Ortiz told ER doctor “please don’t let me die. I’m a good man”
— Dionisio Soldevila (@dSoldevila) June 10, 2019
The man who allegedly shot Ortiz was captured by a crowd of people at the bar and severely beaten.
Police were reportedly waiting to question him about the incident as he underwent treatment for his injuries.
Soldevila shared a photo online of the alleged gunman, Eddy Feliz Garcia, after being beaten.
*Caution: Disturbing Content.
Eddy Feliz Garcia, el que disparo a David Ortiz, segun policia nacional. pic.twitter.com/OC4crKy09P
— Dionisio Soldevila (@dSoldevila) June 10, 2019
Two other people were wounded, Bautista said, including Jhoel López,
A Dominican TV host, Jhoel López, who was with Ortiz, was also wounded, as was a third person.
Police believe López was hit in the leg by the same bullet that struck Ortiz. His wife said his injuries were not life-threatening.
There was no further information on the third person’s injuries.
Ortiz lives in the Dominican Republic part of the year and is often seen out and about, according to The Globe. He also lives in Miami with his wife, Tiffany, and two of their three children.
The shooting took place in a bustling nightlife district in eastern Santo Domingo, at the Dial Bar and Lounge. Ortiz is known to frequent the dance clubs and pricey bars there.
The Boston Red Sox said in a statement they have offered Ortiz’s family “all available resources to aid in his recovery and will continue to keep them in our hearts.”
#RedSox Statement Regarding David Ortiz: pic.twitter.com/zl2yp8NREs
— Red Sox (@RedSox) June 10, 2019
Ortiz played major league baseball for 20 years, spending 14 years with the Red Sox. He was a 1o-time All-Star and helped lead Boston to three World Series titles — Ortiz was the World Series MVP in 2013.
The player retired after the 2016 season.
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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