Pacers' Copeland in hospital after NYC stabbing
NEW YORK — Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland and two women were stabbed outside a Manhattan nightclub early Wednesday following an argument on the street near a Chelsea club that also led to the arrest of two Atlanta Hawks players, authorities said.
In a statement, the Pacers said Copeland suffered a knife wound to his left elbow and abdomen and is in stable condition. In addition, a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN’s Chris Broussard that Copeland fractured his elbow and will have surgery Wednesday.
The Pacers entered Wednesday in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, one game behind the Celtics for the eighth and final playoff spot. They have five games left in the regular season.
“We are aware that Chris Copeland was injured early this morning in New York City,” Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird said earlier Wednesday. “We are still gathering information and will update when we know more. Our thoughts are with Chris and those injured.”
The violence broke out just before 4 a.m. Wednesday outside 1Oak Club, a trendy Chelsea spot where celebs such as Justin Bieber and Snoop Dogg mingle with Manhattan partygoers.
A source said Copeland and Katrine Saltara were having a conversation outside the club when they were approached by a stranger. According to the source, Copeland told the person he had to go, and the person took it the wrong way, then pulled out his knife and stabbed the Pacers forward in the stomach. Saltara then jumped on the attacker’s back and tried to put him in a chokehold, but she got slashed.
Police say she was struck in the arm and across the breast.
Earlier reports Wednesday said Saltara is Copeland’s wife. A source, however, said they were engaged last year but are no longer, labeling their relationship as “good friends” who were hanging out at the club early Wednesday.
A third woman, who was believed to be with the attacker, also was slashed in the abdomen during the incident. She was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital and is in stable condition, according to the New York Daily News, which earlier reported the incident.
The suspect, Shezoy Bleary, was in custody, authorities said. Police said charges were pending, and it wasn’t clear whether Bleary had an attorney who could comment on the charges. The knife was recovered at the scene.
Hawks players Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha were arrested on charges of obstructing the crime scene, after police said they blocked officers from trying to start their investigation. The players were in town to play the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on Wednesday night and had arrived late Tuesday after playing a night game in Atlanta.
A source said the Hawks players were not in Copeland’s party at 1Oak Club.
Garin Narain, the Hawks vice president of public relations, said in a statement Wednesday morning that the team is investigating the matter.
“We are aware of the situation involving Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha this morning,” Narain said. “We are in the process of gathering more information and will have further comment at the appropriate time.”
Hawks officials did not indicate whether the two would play Wednesday night. They are reserves, averaging less than 6 points on a team that has locked up the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
The nightclub had been cited at least 10 times for altercations and four times for noise in 2014, according to a New York Post report.
In a statement, the club disputed that the altercation occurred near the venue, and said it was cooperative with the NYPD.
“A review of the video footage seems to reveal the incident did not originate from or surrounding the venue,” the statement said.
The Pacers were in town to play the Knicks on Wednesday night. Coach Frank Vogel said he planned to visit Copeland in the hospital after shootaround.
Vogel said there is no timetable for Copeland’s recovery at this point.
“Right now we are just concerned about Cope’s well-being,” Vogel said. “Obviously it hurts to see a teammate be injured like this, but we’re trying to remain focused on the game tonight.”
Vogel added: “It’s always a shock when you hear something like this. So it’s a big shock.”
Vogel did not comment on whether Copeland fractured his elbow and whether he needs surgery on the elbow.
“All we’re discussing right now is that he’s had the wound to the elbow and the stomach,” Vogel said.
Vogel said that he spoke with Copeland but declined to reveal details of the conversation.
The coach was asked if the incident will be a distraction for his team.
“Mildly but we have a pretty headstrong group,” Vogel said. “So I know they’re going to have Cope on their minds and have great concern for him but like I said it’s a headstrong, mentally tough group and I think our focus will be good. … If you hear something like that it hurts. Your thoughts and feelings and emotions are making sure that a family member is OK. But you got to get focused.”
Paul George said that he didn’t think it would be difficult for Indiana to remain focused.
“Stuff is going to happen and as professionals we have to do our job,” George said.
Solomon Hill added that the team has no set curfew.
“No, we’re grown men,” Hill said. “So I think you don’t want to try to tell people what to do on their free time. But things happen. Even if you don’t have a curfew, things could happen. So everybody say a prayer for him and we look forward to him coming back.”
Copeland, a 6-foot-8 forward from New Jersey, played in 56 games with the Knicks during the 2012-13 season, his rookie year. He signed with the Pacers in 2013 as a restricted free agent and is in the second year of a two-year deal.
Information from ESPN’s Chris Broussard and Ian Begley and The Associated Press was used in this report.
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