Police in the Dominican Republic announce the arrest of a 14th suspect in David Ortiz shooting

Police in the Dominican Republic police have made another arrest in the David Ortiz shooting. 

Junior Cesar La Hoz Vargas was the 14th person to be arrested when he was apprehended on Saturday.

He is accused of renting the apartment where accused mastermind Victor Hugo Gómez Vasquez hid out before he was captured on Friday, according to the Boston Globe.

Police officers escort Junior Julio Cesar La Hoz Vargas, center with helmet, allegedly implicated in the shooting of former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, into a courtroom

Junior Julio Cesar La Hoz Vargas, is seen left, and Vi­ctor Hugo Gomez Vazquez, right, are escorted out of a courtroom in Santo Domingo in the  Dominican Republic

Junior Julio Cesar La Hoz Vargas, is seen left, and Vi­ctor Hugo Gomez Vazquez, right, are escorted out of a courtroom in Santo Domingo in the  Dominican Republic

Junior Cesar La Hoz Vargas, a 14th suspect implicated in the shooting of former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, sits inside the courtroom in Santo Domingo

Junior Cesar La Hoz Vargas, a 14th suspect implicated in the shooting of former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, sits inside the courtroom in Santo Domingo

Col. Frank Felix Duran Mejia, spokesperson for the Dominican National Police spoke at a pesss conference regarding the investigation into the shooting on Sunday

Col. Frank Felix Duran Mejia, spokesperson for the Dominican National Police spoke at a pesss conference regarding the investigation into the shooting on Sunday

Gómez, 43, was apprehend during a Friday morning operation in the Caribbean Country just three weeks after Ortiz was shot. 

He recorded a video hours before his arrest and said he didn’t order the hit that almost took Big Papi’s life June 9 in the Dominican Republic

Alberto Miguel Rodriguez Mota who also arrested on Friday. He is the alleged inside man who paid the hit men about $8,000.

He was found by Dominican armed forces in a boat as he tried to flee Puerto Rico according to the New York Post.

The intended target of the shooting was supposed to be Sixto David Fernández (right), Víctor Hugo Gómez's cousin, but David Ortiz (left) was instead wounded

The intended target of the shooting was supposed to be Sixto David Fernández (right), Víctor Hugo Gómez’s cousin, but David Ortiz (left) was instead wounded

Col. Meji attempted to explain the complex web of intricacy leading to the shooting and 14 arrests

Col. Mejia explained the complex web of intricacy leading to the shooting and 14 arrests

There have now been 14 people arrested in connection with the shooting of David Ortiz

There have now been 14 people arrested in connection with the shooting of David Ortiz

Víctor Hugo Gómez, 43, was apprehend during a Friday morning operation in the Caribbean Country just three weeks after David Ortiz was shot. He recorded a video hours before his arrest and said he didn't order the hit that almost took Ortiz's life June 9 in the Dominican Republic

Víctor Hugo Gómez, 43, was apprehend during a Friday morning operation in the Caribbean Country just three weeks after David Ortiz was shot. He recorded a video hours before his arrest and said he didn’t order the hit that almost took Ortiz’s life June 9 in the Dominican Republic

A final suspect still remains on the run. Luis Alfredo Rivas Clase, who also is known as ‘The Surgeon,’ according to officials. 

Prosecutors say the case is so ‘complex’ at least 11 suspects in the case could be held for up to a year while the investigation continues.

A judge ruled on Saturday that initial court appearances for Gomez Vasquez and Rodriguez Mota could be pushed back, according to the Globe.    

Gómez Vasquez is accused of ordering the assassination of his cousin, Sixto David Fernández, who the suspect believed had been snitching on him to local authorities in a 2011 drug case that led to his imprisonment.

Fernández was sitting with Ortiz at the Dial Bar and Lounge in Santo Domingo on June 9 when he was shot. 

CCTV footage shows the moment David Ortiz is shot outside a bar in the Dominican Republic

CCTV footage shows the moment David Ortiz is shot outside a bar in the Dominican Republic

A family member was on a video call with Víctor Hugo Gómez before he was arrested Friday in the Dominican Republic

A family member was on a video call with Víctor Hugo Gómez before he was arrested Friday in the Dominican Republic

Víctor Hugo Gómez was also wanted by U.S. authorities for drug trafficking

 Víctor Hugo Gómez was also wanted by U.S. authorities for drug trafficking

Authorities say hit men confused ‘Big Papi’ with Fernández during the shooting at a bar in the capital of Santo Domingo. The two men are friends and were sharing a table. 

Last week, Ortiz was removed from intensive care at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he is still recovering. Doctors in the Dominican Republic removed his gallbladder and part of his intestine.

Dominican authorities are also holding several other suspects, including the shooter, Rolfi Ferreira-Cruz, 25, in connection with the shooting.

CCTV footage captured the moment Ortiz was shot.    

At the time of the attack, Ortiz was with TV personality Jhoel López and Fernández. Ortiz. He was sitting with his back to the street when he was shot once in the back by a bullet that also injured López.

The shooting was carried out by two men on a motorcycle who were followed by several suspects in two cars, authorities said.

Eleven other suspects have been arrested. U.S. prosecutors said Ferreira-Cruz is wanted on armed robbery and gun charges in New Jersey. 

Big Papi is still hospitalized at a Boston hospital recovering from the gun shot wound (file photo from 2013)

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk