Two Atlanta Hawks basketball players were in cuffs Wednesday after an early morning brawl near 1Oak in New York City’s Chelsea section reportedly left the Indiana Pacers’ Chris Copeland with a stab wound to the abdomen. Two women were also slashed in the melee at the West 17th Street hotspot at 4 a.m., closing time, reports The Daily News. Hawks players Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta, were arrested for allegedly interfering with cops when they rushed to the scene.
“We were attacked out of nowhere by a f—-g black civilian,” a woman is heard saying on a video obtained by TMZ. “We are scared for our lives.” EARLIER: Chris Copeland stabbed in Chelsea.
Cops declined to name anyone involved in the incident but confirmed they were called to street outside 1Oak because of a fight.
“They were engaged in a verbal dispute in front of the location,” Officer Sophia Mason, a NYPD spokeswoman, told Reuters. “The males engaged in a confrontation, and that’s when the 22-year-old male stabbed the 31-year-old male.” One of the women injured was Katrine Saltara, 28, who TMZ says is his girlfriend.
The News, which initially described her as his wife, said Copeland and Saltara were arguing when the alleged stabber, 22-year-old Shezoy Bleary lunged at him.
Bleary was a friend of the other woman slashed near 1Oak, the News says. The News identifies her as Catherine Somani, 23. “We are aware that Chris Copeland was injured early this morning in New York City,” Larry Bird, the Pacers president, said on Twitter. “Our thoughts are with Chris and those injured.” In a statement to Metro, a 1Oak spokeswoman said:
“1OAK is extremely concerned with the safety of its patrons and the community. Mr. Copeland and his wife were accosted in front of Fulton Houses where the unfortunate incident occurred after an altercation with the perpetrator. “As a committed community member and partner, 1OAK was fully cooperative with NYPD and a review of the video footage seems to reveal the incident did not originate from or surrounding the venue. “Mr. Copeland’s driver sprang to accost and detain the apparent perpetrator and that individual is in police custody. The incident occurred beyond the view of our security. Once alerted the venue provided all assistance possible.”
The three stabbing victims were taken to local hospitals, police said — Copeland to Bellevue.
The Pacers are in town to play the Knicks on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden; and the Hawks play the Nets at the same time at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
Chris Copeland Update: http://t.co/IiM5mavuNx pic.twitter.com/K7TzGnXJAK
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 8, 2015
Statement from Pacers President Larry Bird regarding Chris Copeland: http://t.co/ypNKRkrt1w pic.twitter.com/PCRKPMTFeF
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 8, 2015
