Indiana Pacers’ Chris Copeland, wife stabbed near NYC nightclub
A stabbing outside a club in New York City early Wednesday injured at least three people, including Indiana Pacers player Chris Copeland and his wife, officials said. (WPIX/NDN)
Police are investigating the stabbing of NBA player Chris Copeland and his wife outside a New York City nightclub. The Indiana Pacers forward was reportedly stabbed in the abdomen after an argument.
Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland was stabbed, and his wife slashed, in a knife attack outside of 1OAK nightclub in New York City Wednesday morning.
Chris Copeland, a former member of the New York Knicks now playing for the Indiana Pacers, was stabbed in the abdomen during an argument at 1 OAK club in Chelsea early Wednesday.
April 8, 2015 - 7:53 am
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Chris Copeland is shown in May 2013 when he played for the New York Knicks. Copeland, who now plays for the Indiana Pacers, his wife and another woman were stabbed outside a New York City nightclub early Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Both were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, ABC reported. (Reuters/Mike Segar)
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Police guard the scene near the 1 Oak nightclub in New York April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)
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Blood is seen on the sidewalk near the 1 Oak nightclub in New York on April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)
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The 1 Oak nightclub is seen in New York April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)
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Blood is smeared on a car near the 1 Oak nightclub in New York on April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)
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NBA player Thabo Sefolosha, 30, of the Atlanta Hawks is seen escorted out of the 10th Precinct of the New York Police Department (NYPD) in Manhattan, New York April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)
![](https://develop.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/web1_2015-04-08t145501z_709581466_gf10000052622_rtrmadp_3_usa-nba-stabbing_2.jpg)
NBA player Pero Antic, 33, of the Atlanta Hawks is seen escorted out of 10th Precinct of the New York Police Department (NYPD) in Manhattan, New York April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)
![](https://develop.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/web1_2015-04-08t143030z_1456269996_gf10000052599_rtrmadp_3_usa-nba-stabbing_2.jpg)
NBA player Pero Antic, 33, of the Atlanta Hawks is seen escorted out of 10th Precinct of the New York Police Department (NYPD) in Manhattan, New York April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)
![](https://develop.reviewjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/web1_2015-04-08t143000z_1950278643_gf10000052598_rtrmadp_3_usa-nba-stabbing_2.jpg)
NBA player Thabo Sefolosha, 30, of the Atlanta Hawks is seen escorted out of the 10th Precinct of the New York Police Department (NYPD) in Manhattan, New York April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)
NEW YORK — NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports.
The Indiana Pacers forward, 31, was stabbed once in the abdomen, and his wife Katrine Saltara, 28, was slashed in the arm and chest.
Another unidentified woman, 23, was slashed in the abdomen, according to the New York Police Department.
A 22-year-old suspect, identified in media reports as Shezoy Bleary, was in custody. Charges were pending, police said.
Police confirmed details of the incident outside the 1 Oak nightclub in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood but would not confirm the identities of the victims or the suspect.
The fight was called into police at about 4 a.m., police said.
“They were engaged in a verbal dispute in front of the location,” Officer Sophia Mason, a NYPD spokeswoman, said.
“The males engaged in a confrontation, and that’s when the 22-year-old male stabbed the 31-year-old male,” Mason said.
A folding knife was recovered from the suspect, she said. The 23-year-old woman was believed to be the suspect’s girlfriend, police said.
Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene.
Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta.
“We are aware that Chris Copeland was injured early this morning in New York City,” said Larry Bird, Pacers president, on Twitter. “Our thoughts are with Chris and those injured.”
The three stabbing victims were taken to local hospitals, police said.
Copeland previously played for the New York Knicks, which were scheduled to play the Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. The Hawks were scheduled to play the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, also on Wednesday.
Copeland is now in his third season in the NBA, having played several seasons in Europe after his college career at the University of Colorado Boulder.
In his first season with the Knicks, he averaged 8.7 points a game before signing with the Pacers, where he has spent the last two years.
This season, the 6-foot-8, 235-pound Copeland is averaging 6.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.