NBA player Chris Copeland, wife stabbed at NYC club
NEW YORK -- Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland and his wife, Katrine Saltara, were stabbed during an early morning confrontation at a nightclub in Chelsea, CBS News has confirmed.
Copeland was stabbed in the abdomen and Saltara was slashed in the arm, breast and buttocks, police said. An unidentified 53-year-old woman "was also slashed in the stomach," CBS New York reports.
The alleged assailant, 22-year-old Shezoy Bleary, was arrested. Two members of the Atlanta Hawks -- Thabo Sefolosha and Pero Antić -- were also taken into custody for allegedly obstructing the crime scene in front of the 1 OAK nightclub, according to CBS New York.
Hawks' spokesperson Garin Narain told CBS News: "We are aware of the situation involving Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha this morning. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have further comment at the appropriate time."
Sources tell CBS New York that the stabbings followed an argument involving Copeland, Bleary and Saltara, which occurred as the bar was closing, at about 4 a.m.
Police said a knife was recovered.
The Pacers are in town to face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. Copeland, 31, was a member of the Knicks during his rookie season in 2012-13.
Copeland and his wife are in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital, the Post reported.
"We are aware that Chris Copeland was injured early this morning in New York City," Pacers president Larry Bird said in a statement. "We are still gathering information and will update when we know more. Our thoughts are with Chris and those injured."