SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was ambushed by two men and shot in the back at nearly point-blank range Sunday night in his native Dominican Republic, authorities said.
Lt. Juan de Leon of the Dominican Republic National Police said the two assailants shot Ortiz after they approached him at the Dial Bar and Lounge in Santo Domingo
Ortiz was taken to a medical facility where he underwent surgery, and he was in stable condition, said Dominican National Police Director Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte.
One assailant was “left behind,” de Leon said, and was injured “by the people in the perimeter.” The other attacker escaped and was still at large.
Investigators were trying to determine whether Ortiz was the intended target, Bautista said.
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De Leon said the only other person wounded was Jhoel López, a Dominican TV host who was with Ortiz. Bautista said police believe López was wounded by the same bullet.
López was shot in the leg and his injuries were not life-threatening, said his wife, Liza Blanco, who is also a TV host.
The Dial Bar and Lounge is located in eastern Santo Domingo on Venezuela Avenue, a bustling nightlife district packed with dance clubs and pricey bars that Ortiz is known to frequent. Ortiz, who lives at least part of the year in the Dominican, is often seen getting his cars washed and hanging out with friends, including other baseball players, artists and entertainers.
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.
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.