Suspect In Stabbing Of Indiana Pacers' Chris Copeland, Girlfriend Appears In Court
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The man accused of stabbing Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland and his girlfriend outside a Chelsea nightclub faced a judge Thursday afternoon.
The suspect, Shevoy Bleary-Murdock, 22, was arraigned in Manhattan criminal court. He is charged with assault and criminal possession of a knife.
The incident occurred before 4 a.m. Wednesday outside 1 OAK, a popular nightclub on West 17th Street, police said.
Copeland and his girlfriend were arguing on the street as the attacker eavesdropped and started to interfere, cops said. The dispute escalated and then Bleary-Murdock allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Copeland in the stomach and elbow and slashed his girlfriend, Katrine Saltara, in the chest and back.
A former Knick, Copeland remained in intensive care at Bellevue Hospital on Thursday after undergoing surgery, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported. He is likely out for the rest of the season. Saltara was released from the hospital.
Copeland was remorseful in a public statement.
"I also want to apologize to everyone, particularly the NBA and the Pacers for my bad choice at being out at that time," he said. "I am doing as well as can be expected and Iwill work hard to make a full recovery."
Bleary-Murdock also accidentally stabbed and injured his own girlfriend in the fight when she tried breaking it up, police said. She was treated at a hospital for minor injuries.
The prosecutor said Thursday the defendant admitted to the stabbing and the knife was found in his pocket.
Bleary-Murdock's attorney pointed out that his client has no criminal record and that he was honorably discharged from the Army last year, CBS2's Ilana Gold reported.
The judge, however, set bail at $20,000, Cornell reported.
The nightclub fight also put players from another NBA team, the Atlanta Hawks, in jeopardy.
Thabo Sefolosha and Pero Antic were arrested at 1 OAK minutes after the stabbing. Police said they refused to leave the scene after being instructed multiple times to move. One of them is also accused of kicking an officer.
Sefolosha and Antic were released without bail after a brief court appearance Wednesday in which they were charged with obstructing governmental authority and disorderly conduct. Their attorney, Alex Spiro, said they did not commit any crime.
The Pacers were in town to play the Knicks on Wednesday night, while the Hawks faced the Nets.