Red Sox Hall of Famer David Ortiz was shot at an entertainment center in Santo Domingo Sunday evening in the Dominican Republic, according to multiple sources.
Fox Sports Radio reports that Ortiz was ambushed by a man who got off a motorcycle and shot at nearly point-blank range at around 8:50 p.m. Ortiz was rushed to a local hospital where he underwent surgery. One of the doctors who operated on the former Red Sox slugger told Dominican TV CDN 37 that Ortiz was out of danger and was in stable condition.
“They called to tell me that David is injured and that they took him to a medical center, but they did not tell me how he is or exactly where he was transferred,” Leo Ortiz told ESPN.com.
A local TV host Jhoel Lopez, who was with Ortiz at the time of the incident, was also wounded.
A man suspected in the shooting was detained after the crowd at the bar stopped him from fleeing and beat him. Police are waiting until the alleged gunman is treated for his injuries before interviewing him.
"Our thoughts are with David Ortiz, who is reportedly hospitalized after being shot in his hometown of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, per @Enrique_Rojas1," a tweet from Major League Baseball read.
The 43-year-old played in the major leagues for 20 seasons, 14 of those with the Boston Red Sox. During his time playing baseball, he hit an incredible 541 homers, he made 10 All-Star teams and won three World Series championships with Boston until retiring in 2016.
Photo: Getty Images