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Officials: David Ortiz Shooting Mastermind Arrested

Dominican police have arrested the man they describe as "one of the masterminds of the attack."

Jenna West

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Victor Hugo Gomez, the man Dominican officials say helped organize the shooting that injured retired Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, has been arrested.

The Dominican National Police announced the news in Spanish on Twitter on Friday.

"The National Police has apprehended Victor Hugo Gómez, designated as one of the masterminds of the attack in which former baseball player David Ortiz was injured."

Ortiz was shot on June 9 while outside of a nightclub in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. Big Papi underwent multiple surgeries and was transported from the Dominican Republic to Massachusetts General Hospital with help from the Red Sox organization.

Gomez is accused of ordering the killing of his cousin, Sixto David Fernandez. Authorities said Ortiz was not the intended target of the attack, but hit men confused him with Fernandez during the shooting. Ortiz and Fernandez are friends and were sharing a table at the nightclub.

Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez said Gomez orchestrated the shooting and described him as a member of Mexico's Gulf Cartel. Officials also said Gomez is believed to be living in the U.S. and sought by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Ortiz, 43, played 20 seasons in the major leagues, primarily for the Red Sox. He was a 10-time All-Star, three-time World Series champion and seven-time Silver Slugger winner in 14 seasons with Boston. He helped the franchise break an 86-year championship drought in 2004 and was named the 2013 World Series MVP. Ortiz retired after the 2016 season.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.

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Jenna West
JENNA WEST

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