SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was ambushed by a man who got off a motorcycle and shot him in the back at nearly point-blank range Sunday night in his native Dominican Republic, authorities said.
Dominican National Police Director Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte said Ortiz was at the Dial Bar and Lounge in Santo Domingo around 8:50 p.m. when the gunman approached from behind and shot him.
Ortiz was taken to a medical facility where he underwent surgery, and his condition was stable, Bautista said.
"Please do not let me die. I am a good man," Ortiz told an emergency room doctor, per ESPN.
I’m at peace knowing you out of danger; you a strong man Compai, can’t wait to hear your voice. My thoughts and prayers are with you, see you soon.
— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) June 10, 2019
Me siento tranquilo de saber que estás fuera de peligro, usted es fuerte Compai, ya quiero oírle la voz. Orando, nos vemos pronto pic.twitter.com/jdSnNsM7eI
Pull thru Big Papi🙏🏾. Dang what a world we live in😔
— andrew mccutchen (@TheCUTCH22) June 10, 2019
A guy who takes care of people all over the world and has made an impact on so many. Was there for me with my brother and he will be back being Big Papi! Thoughts and Prayers from my family to you and yours! #PAPI
— Blake Aubry Swihart (@BLAKESWIHART_1) June 10, 2019
Prayers for my brother @davidortiz 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽...hearing all this news is so disheartening☹️
— Shane Victorino (@ShaneVictorino) June 10, 2019
The gunman was captured by a crowd of people at the bar and beaten by them, Bautista said. He said police are waiting until the man undergoes treatment for his injuries before questioning him.
Jhoel Lopez, a Dominican TV host, was with Ortiz when he was shot. Bautista said Lopez was also wounded, apparently by the same bullet. Ortiz's father, Leo, said authorities informed him about the shooting but didn't provide details. "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.
***WARNING: Graphic video of the shooting below***
NSFW - Security footage of David Ortiz being shot pic.twitter.com/w0fBCYwKlS
— TheRenderNHL (@TheRenderNHL) June 10, 2019
Update: David Ortiz is out of surgery and doing “fine," Ortiz’s brother told local reporter Dionisio Soldevila.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 10, 2019
The 43-year-old Ortiz hit 541 homers in 20 major league seasons, including 14 with the Red Sox. He helped lead Boston to three World Series titles and retired after the 2016 season. He was a 10-time All-Star and two-time World Series MVP, in 2004 and 2013.
The video below was reportedly taken moments before Ortiz was shot.
Imágenes momentos previos al incidente donde resultó herido David Ortiz y Jhoel López. Según fuente oficial David estaba en la terraza del centro de diversión y una persona se le acercó y le disparó por la espalda. No se descarta que López fuera herido de rebote. #lacosacomoes pic.twitter.com/Rj3zCzcJHN
— edith febles (@edithfebles) June 10, 2019
“This man deserves better! Everyone started running, even security! My God, he’s a hero!” Elizeiel Salvador, a local business man, says he drove an injured David Ortiz to Hospiten - a hospital in SDQ.
— Anaridis Rodriguez (@Anaridis) June 10, 2019
In the video, he also tells the slugger’s family he has Ortiz’s jewels. pic.twitter.com/QmtZzt92eS
