Chris Copeland Stabbed Outside Nightclub in New York City

Chris Copeland a forward for the Indiana Pacers and two women suffered stab wounds outside a nightclub in Manhattan in the early morning hours of Wednesday. The incident took place outside a Manhattan nightclub when Copeland was speaking with a woman.

The Pacers, in a formal statement, said that Copeland had suffered a knife wound to the abdomen and the left elbow, but was in stable condition. A source that has knowledge of what took place, said Copeland had fractured an elbow. Copeland underwent surgery late Wednesday on the elbow and his abdomen. Frank Vogel the head coach for the Pacers said he did not have a timetable on Copeland’s return to the team.

Indiana is currently in ninth place one game behind both Boston and Brooklyn in the NBA Eastern Conference playoff hunt with just four games to play in the regular season.

Larry Bird the president of basketball operations for Indiana released a statement saying the organization is aware the Copeland was hurt and they are still trying to gather more information about what took place. Bird added that the organization’s thoughts were with Copeland and the others who were injured.

The knife hit Copeland’s diaphragm and his elbow wound needed surgery to prevent any possible infection. Doctors said Copeland also suffered laceration on his left hand. A source said Copeland could be in intensive care for as long as three days.

The violence erupted around 4 a.m. on Wednesday outside a trendy spot in Chelsea called 1 Oak Club, where celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Justin Bieber hang out with partygoers from Manhattan.

Police said that Copeland and Katrine Saltara had been arguing outside the club when the attacker began listening to the conversation and started to intervene. The dispute increased until the attacker pulled a knife out and started to slash people. Copeland’s driver then grabbed the suspect and held onto him until police arrived.

However, on source disputed the account by police, saying that Copeland and Saltara were talking in the street and a stranger approached them. The source said Copeland told that person to leave and the person misunderstood and pulled his knife and started to stab the Indiana forward. Saltara then jumped on top of the attacker’s back but she was slashed as well.

Police said Saltara was hit in the arm and across one breast. She was in stable condition in the hospital as well.

A source said Saltara and Copeland had been engaged but were no longer a couple but called their relationship good. Another woman, who authorities said was with the attacker, was slashed in the incident. She too was in stable condition in a nearby hospital.

Shezoy Bleary who is 22 was taken into custody and will be charged on Friday. A switchblade was found at the crime scene.