Pacers' Copeland stabbed at NYC nightclub
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland was stabbed and his wife slashed by a knife in a New York City nightclub incident early Wednesday morning.
A fracas reportedly broke out after an argument erupted outside 1 OAK club on West 17th Street shortly before 4 a.m., according to the New York Daily News.
Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha of the Atlanta Hawks were also reportedly arrested for trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. They were charged with obstructing governmental administration.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The man who was arrested, Shezoy Bleary, 22, pulled out a knife and stabbed Copeland in the abdomen and slashed 28-year-old Katrine Saltara, described by investigators as Copeland's wife, in the arm and leg, sources told the paper.
The Pacers released a statement saying Copeland suffered a knife wound to his left elbow and abdomen.
The attacker also accidentally slashed his friend Catherine Somani, 23, in her abdomen during the fracas.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Copeland and Saltara were rushed to Bellevue Hospital and were in stable condition. Somani was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital.
"We are aware that Chris Copeland was injured early this morning in New York City," Pacers president of basketball operations 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."
The 31-year-old Copeland came to New York because the Pacers are playing the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. The Hawks, meanwhile, beat the Suns Tuesday night, and then the team flew to New York because Atlanta is playing Brooklyn on Wednesday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In 50 games (12 starts) this season, Copeland has averaged 6.2 points. The 6- foot-8 forward was a member of the Knicks during his rookie season in 2012-13.