David Ortiz Gets Justice as 10 Convicted in his 2019 Attempted Murder

Santo Domingo: A Dominican court convicted 10 people involved in the 2019 attempted murder of Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer David Ortiz, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

Ortiz, a Dominican native, was ambushed by men on motorcycle who shot him in the back at close range while the former Red Sox first basemen and designated hitter was at a bar with friends in Santo Domingo. Two men, including the alleged shooter Rolfi Ferreyra Cruz, were each sentenced to 30 years in prison by Santo Domingo’s First Collegiate Court.

Three other defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, including Víctor Hugo Gómez Vásquez, who was accused of planning the attack. Eight others received prison sentences of between 5 and 20 years. In a statement released by the Dominican court: Among the crimes for which the 10 men were sentenced were criminal organization, use of illegal firearms, attempted murder, and complicity. American private investigators hired by Ortiz said Ortiz was the target of local drug dealer Victor Hugo Gómez Vásquez, whose motive was jealousy.

Hall of Famer Ortiz was seriously wounded in the ambush and lost his gallbladder in the shooting and had to undergo further surgeries in the United States after being flown to Boston from his home island. Ortiz led the Red Sox to three World Series championships, was a 10-time All-Star and hit 541 home runs before retiring in 2016. He was inducted into Major League Baseballs hall of Fame in 2021.