Dominican court convicts 10 people involved in brutal attack on baseball legend David Ortiz
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: On December 26, 10 of the 13 people were convicted by a Dominican Republic court over charges of attempting to murder the Dominican-American baseball legend David "Big Papi" Ortiz in June 2019 in Santo Domingo. However, the alleged mastermind of the attack, Victor Hugo Gomez Vasquez, was acquitted along with two other defendants, for not having sufficient evidence.
On hearing the verdict from the court, Gomez Vasquez, one of the convicts, covered his eyes and cried, according to the Dominican newspaper Diario Libre. Apparently, on June 9, 2019, the Red Sox legend was shot in the back while he was in the Dominican Republic. Following the incident that took place at Dial Bar and Lounge, Ortiz had to undergo three surgeries, one on the day of the incident in his native country and another two in Boston.
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The longest sentences among the convicted were issued against Rolfi Ferreras Cruz, 26, and Eddy Vladimir Feliz Garcia, 27, who was sentenced to 30 years each in prison, “for their direct participation in the assassination attempt,” said the attorney general’s office. Ortiz was shot by the accused Ferreras Cruz while he was riding the motorcycle as a pillion and the bike was ridden by Feliz Garcia, the New York Post reports.
At the time when Ortiz was shot, Sixto David Fernandez, a cousin of Gomez Vasques was sharing a table with the legend. Gomez Vasques, one of Gulf Cartel of Mexico's associates, hired a criminal gang to kill Fernandez but the hitmen mistakenly shot the 47-year-old baseball player, said the Dominican authorities, in 2019.
The attorney general further stated that Rodriguez Mota, 28, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison was “the person who paid those who carried out the act” against "Big Papi". Oliver Moises Mirabal, 28, and Eduardo Ciprian Lebron, 24, were sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Gabriel Alexander Perez Vizcaino, 31, was sentenced to nine years while Joel Rodriguez de la Cruz, 28, was sentenced to six years. A five-year sentence was imposed for Franklin Junior Meran, 26, Junior Cesar La Hoz Vargas, 28, and Porfirio Ayendi Dechamps Vasquez, 29, as per the New York Post report.
In addition to the 10 convicted men serving their respective sentences, they are required to pay 50 million pesos ($8,88,000) in compensation for the damages caused, stated the attorney general’s office.
A 10-time All-Star, Ortiz who is currently working as an analyst for Fox Sports, helped the Red Sox in ending their championship drought of 86 years in 2004 and fought .688 against the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 when he was named World Series MVP. Following the 2016 season, the legend retired with 541 career home runs, and since then, his uniform No. 34 has been retired by the team. In July 2022, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Notably, on February 8, 2023, the full sentence will be read, told the Dominican authorities.