Dominican Police Make Arrest in What Eyewitnesses Described as David Ortiz Assassination Attempt
By Adam Weinrib
What began as nebulous reports that stoked our worst fears clarified into an overall picture late Sunday night that made us all feel somewhat lucky Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz remained alive, against all odds.
David Ortiz Shooting
The 43-year-old slugger was shot and rushed to a hospital in his native Dominican Republic on Sunday, the bullet entering through his back and exiting through his abdomen. Per video of the event and corroboration of eyewitness accounts, it does not appear to have been a botched robbery, as first theorized.
Rather, it looks like an assassination attempt, plain and simple.
Police in the Dominican Republic are saying the gunshot wound suffered by David Ortiz was not from an attempted robbery, as initially speculated. Alleged video of the incident shows a man walking up to a bar, aiming almost point blank and firing a gun. https://t.co/lFSmXaylum
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 10, 2019
The video is intensely graphic and not for the faint of heart, but it's hard to have another takeaway from watching it. During an otherwise calm dinner setting, a man approaches a seated Ortiz and shoots him from almost point-blank range. An inch or two in another direction, and this story somehow gets even darker.
He's right. Re-watching the Ortiz shooting, that doesn't look like a botched robbery, but cold-blooded attempted murder. Shooter rushes into frame, shoots Ortiz once in the back, flees. https://t.co/FB111BA0Cz
— John Tomase (@jtomase) June 10, 2019
According to witnesses, there was no inciting event that preceded this. Ortiz was jovial, taking photos with fans and otherwise holding court in a land where he's essentially a generous king.
Testimony from someone at the restaurant: Ortiz was taking photos with fans and the guy came up from behind him and shot him. Blood everywhere. Man here speaking believes he acted alone. https://t.co/gzBMhcyfFY
— Courtney Fallon (@CourtneyFallon_) June 10, 2019
Shortly before midnight, Dominican police made an arrest in the case while Ortiz underwent surgery.
Dominican police have arrested this man in connection with the shooting of David Ortiz, according to @dSoldevila. Looks as though the videos previously circulating of a man getting kicked in the face and beaten down may indeed have been connected to the Ortiz case. https://t.co/YOjH8S8P8U
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 10, 2019
It appears the worst of the impact has already passed; now we must all band together and continue hoping for the full recovery that appears to be on the horizon.