Report: Chris Copeland, wife stabbed
— -- Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland was stabbed in the abdomen and his wife was slashed outside a New York nightclub early Wednesday, police sources told the New York Daily News.
They were in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital, sources told the newspaper. Copeland's wife was stabbed in the arm and slashed across the breast and buttocks.
The Pacers are in town to play the Knicks on Wednesday night.
"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 NYPD confirmed the stabbing, but only would identify the victims as an "NBA player and his wife." It said the incident occurred just before 4 a.m. outside the 1Oak Club on West 17th Street. A second woman also was stabbed, the NYPD said. She was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital.
The incident stemmed from an argument at the club as Copeland and others, including the suspected attacker, 22-year-old Shezoy Bleary, were leaving. It was not clear whether Copeland was involved in the argument. Bleary was arrested, and charges against him are pending.
Atlanta Hawks players Thabo Sefolosha and Pero Antic also were at the scene and arrested and charged after refusing to move when police tried to establish a crime scene, sources told the Daily News. Hours earlier, the Hawks had beaten the Suns in Atlanta, 96-69. They play the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
"We are aware of the situation involving Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha this morning," Hawks spokesperson Garin Narain said in a statement. "We are in the process of gathering more information and will have further comment at the appropriate time."
Copeland, a 6-foot-8 forward from New Jersey, played in 56 games with the Knicks during the 2012-13 season, his rookie year. He signed with the Pacers in 2013 as a restricted free agent and is in the second year of a two-year deal.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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