Former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz was shot in the Dominican Republic in a case of mistaken identity, local officials have said.
The Major League Baseball legend, nicknamed Big Papi, was shot in the back in the outdoor area of a club in Santo Domingo on June 9.
The 43-year-old Dominican-American is recovering in a hospital in Boston, after having his gallbladder and part of his intestine removed in emergency surgery.
READ MORE: 11th arrest made as authorities close in on David Ortiz shooting culprits
Officials have now confirmed the baseball icon was caught up in a gangland hit attempt.
The intended target of the attack was Ortizs friend, Sixto David Fernandez, who was with him at the time of the shooting, Dominican attorney general Jean Alain Rodríguez said on Wednesday.
The man suspected of ordering the attempted hit was named as Victor Hugo Gomez, who is a cousin of Fernandez and allegedly has links to Mexicos Gulf Cartel drug gang.
Also on rt.com Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz shot in Dominican Republic
Eleven suspects have so far been arrested in relation to the case, including the alleged gunman, Rolfy Ferreyra.
Ferreyra is believed to have mistaken three-time World Series winner Ortiz for Fernandez based on the clothing he was wearing in a blurry photo he was given when the hit was organized.
Fernandez was reportedly attRead More – Source
Former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz was shot in the Dominican Republic in a case of mistaken identity, local officials have said.
The Major League Baseball legend, nicknamed Big Papi, was shot in the back in the outdoor area of a club in Santo Domingo on June 9.
The 43-year-old Dominican-American is recovering in a hospital in Boston, after having his gallbladder and part of his intestine removed in emergency surgery.
READ MORE: 11th arrest made as authorities close in on David Ortiz shooting culprits
Officials have now confirmed the baseball icon was caught up in a gangland hit attempt.
The intended target of the attack was Ortizs friend, Sixto David Fernandez, who was with him at the time of the shooting, Dominican attorney general Jean Alain Rodríguez said on Wednesday.
The man suspected of ordering the attempted hit was named as Victor Hugo Gomez, who is a cousin of Fernandez and allegedly has links to Mexicos Gulf Cartel drug gang.
Also on rt.com Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz shot in Dominican Republic
Eleven suspects have so far been arrested in relation to the case, including the alleged gunman, Rolfy Ferreyra.
Ferreyra is believed to have mistaken three-time World Series winner Ortiz for Fernandez based on the clothing he was wearing in a blurry photo he was given when the hit was organized.
Fernandez was reportedly attRead More – Source