SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — While Tiffany Ortiz was thanking people for caring for her husband, David Ortiz, one of the suspects being sought in the shooting is believed to be the same man who’s wanted by Pennsylvania authorities on a charge of attempted homicide.
The Red Sox today issued the following statement on behalf of Tiffany Ortiz:
“I want to take this opportunity to offer our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Eliezer Salvador, owner of Presidente Sports, for your quick thinking and swift action on Sunday night. Your heroism and selflessness were the first steps to ensuring David could get the urgent care he required. For that, we are eternally grateful.
“To the amazing surgeons, medical team, and staff at the Abel González Clinic in the Dominican Republic, there are no words to express our gratitude for the amazing care you provided. Without you, our story could have had a tragic ending. You will forever be our guardian angels.
“David remains in guarded condition in the surgical intensive care unit following his second surgery. He continues to heal and make progress. David will continue to recover in the ICU and future updates on his condition will be provided when necessary.”
Luis Rivas-Clase, 31, is charged in an April 2018 shooting in Reading. The victim, who was shot in the lower back, told authorities that Rivas-Clase threatened to have him killed a few days before the shooting, according to the Berks County sheriff’s office.
Pennsylvania authorities released a mug shot of Rivas-Clase that strongly resembles the suspect in an image provided by Dominican authorities, who provided the same name but without the hyphen listed in U.S. court documents.
Berks County District Attorney John Adams said Thursday that based on the images in the mug shots, and the name match, he believes it’s the same suspect. He said confirmation would have to come through a fingerprint match.
In any event, Pennsylvania authorities don’t expect to see Rivas-Clase back in Pennsylvania to face trial anytime soon, if ever.
“Since this individual would be subject to charges in the Dominican Republic, the chance of us getting him back is frankly far-fetched,” he told The Associated Press.
Rivas-Clase separately faces charges stemming from an October traffic stop in Reading. Police charged him with providing false identification to law enforcement and driving without a license. Bail was set at $10,000. Records show a bail bondsman posted bond on Nov. 29.
Rivas-Clase skipped bail and was subsequently declared a fugitive, according to an online docket.
A message was left for his attorney in that case. Court records do not list an attorney in the Pennsylvania attempted homicide case.
