Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland and wife stabbed outside New York club 1 OAK
Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland was one of three people injured in a stabbing outside of 1 OAK club in New York City in the early hours of 8 April, police announced.
According to 5News, the incident occurred around 4am near West 17th Street and Ninth Avenue in Chelsea. The other two victims were two women who had been slashed, authorities said.
One of those victims was later identified as Copeland's 28-year-old wife Katrine Saltara. Saltara was allegedly slashed in the arm and leg, while 31-year-old Copeland suffered a stab wound to the abdomen.
NY Daily News reported that Copeland's attacker was arrested, along with Atlanta Hawks members Pero Antić and Thabo Sefolosha. The stabbing suspect, identified as 22-year-old Shezoy Bleary, allegedly took out a knife during an argument with Copeland as they were exiting the club.
The second slashing victim, 53-year-old Catherine Somani, was with Bleary and was reportedly slashed in the abdomen by accident.
According to the Daily News, Antić and Sefolosha were allegedly arrested for trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. They were later charged with obstructing governmental administration. The two were in the city as their team prepared to play against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on 8 April.
Copeland and his wife were taken to Bellevue Hospital and were believed to be in stable conditions. Somani, who was also listed as stable, was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital.
Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird released a statement about the incident on the basketball team's official website. "We are aware that Chris Copeland was injured early this morning in New York City. We are still gathering information and will update when we know more. Our thoughts are with Chris and those injured," the statement read.
Copeland and his team are in New York as they prepare to play against his former team, the New York Knicks, at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.
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