Dominican authorities have reportedly detained six people in connection with the shooting on Sunday of former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz in Santo Domingo.
The six include the gunman, although four other suspects remain at large, according to Jean Alian Rodriguez, the Dominican Republic’s chief prosecutor.
{mosads}Police officials said the suspects were paid 400,000 Dominican pesos, or about $7,800, to kill Ortiz, who was shot in the back Sunday evening at an outdoor bar. Police and prosecutors have not specified a motive.
“At this moment, they are being interrogated and we will continue deepening the investigation to get to the truth about what happened,” Rodríguez said, according to The Associated Press.
“Nobody involved in this unfortunate episode will escape justice, neither those who carried it out nor the mastermind,” he added.
Authorities have identified the suspected gunman as Rolfy “Sandy” Ferreyra and Eddy Vladimir Feliz Garcia as the man suspected of driving him to the bar on a motorcycle.
Ortiz, a native of the Dominican Republic, frequently made return trips during his time playing for the Red Sox but had a reputation for avoiding its criminal element.
However, a law enforcement official told the AP that police are investigating the possibility he inadvertently made an acquaintance that led to the shooting.
Ortiz, who was flown to Boston for medical treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital, has been able to sit up and take some steps as of Thursday, according to his wife Tiffany.
“His condition is guarded and he will remain in the ICU for the coming days, but he is making good progress towards recovery,” she said, according to the AP.