The nine people arrested in connection with the shooting of David Ortiz in the Dominican Republic last weekend will spend at least a year behind bars while they await trial, a judge ruled Friday.
At the same court proceedings, the man who allegedly admitted to shooting the Red Sox legend, Rolfi Ferreira-Cruz, 25, claimed he was only told the clothing color of his target and didn’t mean to shoot Ortiz.
Prior to the appearance, Ferreira-Cruz admitted to reporters that he pulled the trigger but claimed he mistook Ortiz for someone else.
“I was told the clothing color, nothing else,” Ferreira-Cruz said. “I didn’t see him.”
But prosecutors say Ferreira-Cruz admitted to targeting Ortiz and only changed his story because he feared retribution from Big Papi’s fans behind bars.
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Police led the suspects involved in the incident through a courthouse Friday night for the second time in as many days. The suspects were wearing military helmets and bullet-proof vests when they faced the judge.
The court announced that all nine suspects will spend a year in prison while they await trial.
A surveillance recording from the Santo Domingo bar Sunday night shows the gunman approaching Ortiz and shooting him at nearly point-blank range.
The director of the National Police says someone offered the suspects $8,000 to perform the hit.
A motive is still unclear.
Ferreira-Cruz, of Reading, Pennsylvania, is also facing armed robbery charges in New Jersey.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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