David Ortiz Shooting Mastermind Arrested: Dominican Officials

The man who Dominican authorities said was behind the shooting of retired Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was arrested in the country's capital. Victor Hugo Gomez Vasquez was arrested in Santo Domingo, officials announced Thursday.

Ortiz was shot June 9 in his native Dominican Republic. Authorities said a gunman mistook him for another individual who was the target of an assassination plot. The gunman shot Ortiz through the back and the bullet tore through his stomach, nearly killing the 43-year-old baseball star. Doctors removed part of Ortiz's colon, intestines and gallbladder to save his life.

The mastermind behind the shooting was identified as Vasquez, a fugitive involved in Mexico's Gulf Cartel. Authorities have not divulged a possible motive. Accused gunman Rolfi Ferreira Cruz shot Ortiz on the patio of Dial Bar and Lounge, prosecutors said. He was sitting with friend David Fernandez and Jhoel Lopez, a Dominican television personality. The bullet passed through Ortiz and also hit Lopez in the leg. Lopez's injuries were minor.

Fernandez was the intended target of the shooting, prosecutors said.