Alleged David Ortiz Gunman Reportedly Wanted For NJ Crimes

The alleged gunman who fired a bullet into the back of baseball star David Ortiz was wanted for crimes in New Jersey, prosecutors confirmed on Thursday.

Rolfi Ferreira-Cruz, 25, of Reading, Pa. was recently arrested in the Dominican Republic and charged with the attempted murder of Ortiz, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office.

On Jan. 5, 2018, the same man was charged with multiple counts of armed robbery, aggravated assault and various other gun allegations in Clifton, according to the PCPO.

Ferreira-Cruz had never been apprehended on those charges and a bench warrant was issued by a Superior Court at the request of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.

Subsequently, a grand jury returned an indictment against Ferreira-Cruz, according to the PCPO.

On December 22, 2017, members of the Clifton Police Department responded to the area of 297
Hope Ave. in Clifton on a report of two armed robberies with handguns. The robberies occurred in the area of Hope Avenue and in the area of Lake Avenue and Van Winkle Avenue in Clifton, according to the PCPO.

Upon arrival, the police located a crime scene and two victims, a 26-year-old Passaic resident and a 41-year-old Clifton resident. Based on the investigation, Ferreira-Cruz was identified as
one of the robbers, according to the PCPO.

Clifton police in January 2018 asked the public for help in finding Rolfi (or Rolfy) Ferreira Cruz and another man, according to Daily Voice. Both were suspected in an armed robbery case.

Ferreira Cruz, whose hometown was listed as Paterson in 2018, remained at-large while the other, Arturo Hart, 20, of Passaic, turned himself on Jan. 15, 2018, according to The Record.

Dominican Police Chief Ney A. Bautista said at a Wednesday press conference, meanwhile, that the person who coordinated the Ortiz attack was among those in custody and four other suspects involved in the shooting are being searched for. The mastermind of the attack is still on the loose, and authorities declined to speak about a motive.

"At this moment, they are being interrogated and we will continue deepening the investigation to get to the truth about what happened," Chief Prosecutor Jean Alain Rodríguez said, according to The Associated Press.

Read more: David Ortiz Hit Was For $8K; Suspected Shooter Arrested: Police

"Nobody involved in this unfortunate episode will escape justice, neither those who carried it out nor the mastermind," he said.

Bautista said a person was paid 400,000 Dominican pesos to put the attack together - roughly $7,800.

"They paid 400,000 pesos to those who tried to kill David Ortiz," Bautista said while holding up the gun he said was used in the shooting, according to ESPN.

Police have in custody Cruz, whom authorities said confessed to the shooting; Oliver Moises Mirable, who authorities said buried the gun in a garden at his home; and Ramon Martinez, Joel Rodríguez de la Cruz, Reynaldo Rodriguez Valenzuela, Porfirio Allende Dechamps Vasquez and Eddy Vladimir Feliz Garcia, who authorities said drove the motorcycle.

Feliz Garcia was captured by fans after skidding and falling off his bike, court documents obtained by the AP said. The fans beat him until police took him into custody.

Feliz Garcia's lawyer said his client is a motorcycle taxi driver who didn't know what was being planned, claiming he's actually "a fan of David's."

Ortiz, the retired Boston Red Sox star, was shot Sunday night in his hometown of Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital. Police said he was shot once in the back in close range.

Ortiz was rushed to a Dominican hospital and flown to Massachusetts General Hospital Monday night after the Boston Red Sox arranges an air ambulance transport. He suffered significant organ damage.

Ortiz has started moving around as he recovers from being shot. A statement from Ortiz's wife, Tiffany, said the ex-Red Sox slugger sat up and took some steps Tuesday and Wednesday. He remains in the intensive care unit at MGH.

"Yesterday and this morning, David was able to sit up as well as take some steps," Tiffany Ortiz said in a statement released through the Red Sox. "His condition is guarded and he will remain in the ICU for the coming days, but he is making good progress towards recovery.

With reporting by Mike Carraggi, Patch Staff