'Don't let me die, I'm a good man': Ex-Boston Red Sox star David 'Big Papi' Ortiz's words to doctor before going into surgery after he was shot at nearly point-blank range at a Dominican Republic bar
- WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
- David 'Big Papi' Ortiz, 43, was shot in a club in Santo Domingo on Sunday
- Suspect is in custody and Ortiz is said to be in stable condition after surgery
- 'Please don't let me die, I'm a good man,' Ortiz begged the ER doctor
- An angry crowd captured and severely beat the suspect in the shooting
- Police took the suspect into custody and identified him as Eddy Feliz Garcia
- Ortiz is a three-time World Series champion during his career with the Red Sox
- Known as 'Big Papi' Ortiz is a native of Santo Domingo where shooting occurred
Former Boston Red Sox star David 'Big Papi' Ortiz has been shot and wounded in the Dominican Republic, and has come out of emergency surgery in stable condition.
Ortiz, a three-time World Series champion during his career with the Boston Red Sox, was shot at the Dial Bar and Lounge at around 8.50pm on Sunday in Santo Domingo.
Authorities said a man got off the back of a motorcycle and shot Ortiz in the back at nearly point-blank range as he was dining in the open-air lounge with television presenter Jhoel Lopez, who was also injured in the shooting.
The bullet entered Ortiz's lower back and was a through-and-through, officials said.
There were initial reports that the shooting was an attempted robbery, but local media reported that police are skeptical of robbery as a motive, and say the shooting may have even been an attempted contract killing.
A suspect was detained and beaten at the scene by outraged witnesses, and later taken into police custody. Police identified the suspect as Eddy Feliz Garcia.
Ortiz, 43, was shot and wounded at an entertainment center in Santo Domingo, the bullet reportedly striking him in the leg. He is pictured here October, 2016
Ortiz (right) was at the lounge with television presenter Jhoel Lopez (left) who posted this photo shortly before the shooting. Lopez was also shot and injured in the incident
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Ortiz was rushed into surgery at the Abel Gonzolez Clinic, according to local journalist Dionisio Soldevila.
'Please don't let me die, I'm a good man,' Ortiz begged the emergency room doctor, according to Soldevila.
Television presenter Jhoel Lopez, who hosted Me Gusta de Noche in 2017, was at the club with Ortiz and was also shot in the incident.
Lopez was reportedly struck in the leg, possibly by the same bullet that passed through Ortiz.
Ortiz's father, Enrique (Leo) Ortiz, told ESPN's Enrique Rojas 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.'
'At the moment, everything is confusing. I'm trying to find out where they took my son,' he said.
Suspect: Police identified the suspect in the shooting as Eddy Feliz Garcia (above)
ESPN is reporting that Ortiz was in the Dial Bar and Lounge at the time of the shooting and the gunman has been detained.
Video from the scene shows a crowd kicking and screaming at a man believed to be a suspect in the shooting.
According to CDN 37, a news station in the Dominican Republic, an arrest was made of at least one suspect in the shooting.
Ortiz was reportedly taken to a local medical facility in nearby Santo Domingo, where the 43-year-old former slugger was born.
A Red Sox spokesperson said the club has no information about the shooting as yet.
Word of the shooting sparked an outpouring of support from both former teammates and former opponents.
'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,' tweeted Pedro Martinez, a former Red Sox pitcher from the Dominican Republic who was an inspiration for Ortiz on his path to MLB.
'Anxiously waiting for more news. In the meantime, only prayers for @davidortiz, Tiffany and their family,' tweeted Alex Rodriguez, former slugger for the arch-rival New York Yankees.
'Thoughts and prayers going out to @davidortiz,' wrote current Angels star Mike Trout.
Ortiz ended his 20-year big league career in 2016, when he earned the last of his 10 All-Star appearances.
The suspect in the shooting cowers as an angry crowd kicks him and pelts him with debris after a shooting left Ortiz injured on Sunday night in Santo Domingo
Police take a man into custody at the Dial club in Santo Domingo after former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was shot there in an apparent robbery attempt on Sunday
The former designated hitter and first baseman won seven Silver Slugger awards in his career, and he hit 541 home runs with 1,768 RBIs in 2,408 games in the majors. He ranks 17th in major league history ion career home runs.
Ortiz began his major league career by playing six seasons for the Minnesota Twins (1997-2002), but his career blossomed after he joined the Red Sox.
His postseason heroics helped Boston capture its first World Series title in 86 years in 2004, when he was the Most Valuable Player of the American League Championship Series as the Red Sox overcame a 3-0 series deficit to the New York Yankees in seven games.
He also helped the Red Sox win championships in 2007 and 2013, capturing World Series MVP honors in the latter season.
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