Officials Say David Ortiz Was Not The Intended Target In DR Shooting

A Dominican Republic prosecutor said Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz was not the intended target in the shooting that took place on June 9.

On Wednesday, attorney general Jean Alain Rodriguez announced in a news conference that Sixto David Fernandez, a friend of Ortiz’s who shared a table with him that night at the Dial Bar and Lounge in the capital city of Santo Domingo, was the real target in the incident. A fugitive by the name Victor Hugo Gomez ordered the hit on Fernandez because of their longtime beef over Fernandez allegedly telling police information about Gomez. Rodriguez mentioned that Gomez is wanted by U.S. law enforcement.

The gunman was reportedly given a photo of Fernandez, but due to lack of lighting, the gunman confused Fernandez with Ortiz. The lighting made it look like Fernandez was wearing white pants, as Ortiz was that night. National Police Chief Ney Aldrin Bautista explained Gomez planned the attack with the hitman, who police identified as Rolfi Ferreira Cruz, a man Gomez met while in imprisoned.

“Sixto David Fernandez pointed to Victor Hugo Gomez as the only person who may want to attempt to kill him, which he had already expressed through repeated threatening messages,’’ Rodriguez said. 

Following the incident, press interviewed Ortiz, who said he didn’t know of anyone who would want to harm him. The 43-year-old was shot in his back at point-blank range while sitting at a bar patio. So far Dominican officials have arrested 11 people in connection to the shooting.