Jailed Gunman Says Ortiz Was Not Assassination Target (But Does Not Reveal Who Was)

Rolfy Ferreyra Cruz, the man accused of shooting David Ortiz, claims in a jail-cell video that Ortiz was not the intended victim. Ortiz was simply wearing similarly-colored clothes to the man Cruz was apparently intending to murder (whose name he unhelpfully failed to provide).

"I was confused," Cruz said. "I got confused by his clothing. They only told me the color of his clothes." As a writer for the Daily News notes, Ortiz is "instantly-recognizable" in the DR and "would likely stand out in any crowd regardless of his outfit".

Erick Montilla, spokesman for the Dominican prosecutor handling the case, said Cruz's claim was made in the interest of self-preservation, to avoid getting "lynched" in prison. "If you observe the video, he goes directly to where the victim is and shoots without hesitation."

Nine suspects have been arrested.