Turns out the David Ortiz shooting in the Dominican Republic was nothing more than an unfortunate case of mistaken identity.
According to The Associated Press, National Police spokesman Frank Félix Duran Mejía revealed Sunday that the Red Sox legend was sitting near the intended victim after a suspected drug trafficker offered to pay $30,000 for the shooting that ended up wounding the slugger instead.
Duran Mejía said the alleged mastermind of the attack — identified June 19 as Víctor Hugo Gómez Vasquez — had so far paid only $10,000 to those hired to arrange the killing of his cousin, Sixto David Fernández.
Duran Mejía added that Gómez Vasquez was afraid Fernández would tell police that his relative was in the Dominican Republic and blamed the cousin for an earlier arrest.
Gómez Vasquez has denied the attempted murder of Fernández and Ortiz.
Ortiz, 43, was at a Santo Domingo bar in his native Dominican Republic the night of June 9 when a suspect shot him at close range. So far, 14 people have been taken into custody in connection with the shooting. Authorities are still searching for others involved.
The retired Red Sox star underwent surgery in the Dominican Republic following the shooting, and doctors removed his gallbladder and part of his intestines. He was then transported to Boston. He continues to recover from his injuries there, having been moved out of the intensive care unit.
Ortiz was a 10-time All-Star who led the Red Sox to three World Series titles.