New Jersey

Suspect in David Ortiz Shooting Wanted in New Jersey Armed Robberies: Report

The Daily Voice reports that Rolfi Ferreira Cruz was a suspect in a pair of street holdups in December 2017

What to Know

  • The man accused of shooting David Ortiz is also wanted for multiple robberies in Clifton, New Jersey, according to a report
  • The Daily Voice reports that Rolfi Ferreira Cruz was a suspect in a pair of street holdups in December 2017
  • Cruz was among seven suspects arrested in the Dominican Republic after being offered almost $8,000 to shoot and kill the former baseball sta

The man accused of shooting David Ortiz in a Dominican Republic bar is also wanted for multiple robberies in Clifton, New Jersey, according to a report.

The Daily Voice reports that Rolfi Ferreira Cruz was a suspect in a pair of street holdups in December 2017. Cruz reportedly was among of group of men who held up two victims at gunpoint within a matter of blocks.

Two men, a 26-year-old and 41-year-old, were robbed as they walked in Clifton, both being held up by a group of armed robbers with guns wearing masks on Dec. 22, 2017, police say.

According to police, they caught two of the four suspects later that night, a 19-year-old and a 16-year-old, and the third, a 20-year-old, turned himself in January 2018.

Police continued searching for Cruz, although they tell NBC 4 New York they have not been able to confirm that the man arrested in connection with the Ortiz shooting is the same man wanted in connection with the Clifton robberies.

Cruz was among seven suspects arrested in the Dominican Republic after being offered almost $8,000 to shoot and kill the former baseball star affectionally known as Big Papi, authorities said. Cruz is believed to be the gunman in the attack.

The national police director, Maj. Gen. Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte, said the coordinator of the attack was offered 400,000 Dominican pesos, or about $7,800, to orchestrate the shooting. He said the alleged coordinator was also among those in custody.

Authorities declined to give a motive for the shooting at a popular Santo Domingo bar Sunday night or say who had hired the attackers.

Officials promised, however, that all those who targeted Ortiz in the baseball-crazy Caribbean country would be brought to justice.

"We recognize the symbolism that David Ortiz represents, and we promise that this case will be cleared up completely," Bautista said.

Ortiz is one of the most beloved figures in sports history in the Dominican Republic and Boston, a fearsome power hitter with a ready smile. The slugger led the Red Sox to three World Series championships, was a 10-time All-Star and hit 541 home runs.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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