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Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was shot in the back Sunday at an outdoor bar in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo. He was reportedly in stable condition after undergoing surgery.

Ortiz, a native of the Dominican Republic, was at the bar in the capital at about 8:50 p.m. when a man on a motorcycle approached and shot him from behind, according to Dominican National Police Director Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte.

Ortiz's father, Leo Ortiz, told local reporters that his son, 43, was "fine" after surgery and that the bullet did not hit any vital organs.

"He is out of surgery and stable; he is resting," Leo Ortiz said. "Big Papi will be around for a long time."

Dominican television host Jhoel Lopez and another person were also wounded in the attack, according to The Associated Press. Lopez was shot in the leg; his injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Bautista said the alleged shooter was captured and beaten by a crowd and that he was undergoing treatment before being questioned by authorities.

The Dial Bar and Lounge, where the assault took place, is in the eastern part of the capital in a nightlife district known for its high-end dance clubs, according to the AP.


Ortiz, who helped the Red Sox win the World Series three times, hit 541 home runs in his more than 20-year career. He won the World Series MVP award in 2013 and retired after the 2016 season.  Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


This story has been updated to clarify that David Ortiz won the World Series MVP award in 2013. An earlier version of this story didn't specify which MVP award he won.

Crime, Law and Justice

Scott Neuman

Author

The shooting occurred late Sunday when a motorcycle-riding gunman approached shot Ortiz from behind at a Santo Domingo bar.

Ex-Red Sox star David Ortiz in stable condition after shooting in Dominican Republic

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