Dominican prosecutors identify suspect in alleged David Ortiz murder-for-hire plot

Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic have identified the man they allege paid for the shooting of former Boston Red Sox all-star David Ortiz, according to CNN.

Dominican court documents identify Alberto Miguel Rodriguez Mota as the person suspected of bankrolling the hit, in which Ortiz was shot at close range in the back at a Santo Domingo bar.

{mosads}The indictment alleges that Rodriguez Mota met with another suspect, Gabriel Alexander Perez Vizcaino, to hash out the details of the plan one week before Ortiz was shot, according to CNN.

Perez Vizcaino allegedly acted as an intermediary between Rodriguez Mota and Jose Eduardo Ciprián, who officials say helped coordinate the shooting from a Dominican prison.

Ciprián allegedly texted a photo of Ortiz to Perez Vizcaino, who then met with a group of criminal associates at a gas station to show them the picture, according to CNN.

Prosecutors did not identify a motive for Rodriguez Mota or whether they think the idea for the hit originated with him, according to the network. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Last week, Dominican authorities announced they had detained six people, including the suspected gunman and a man who attempted to act as his getaway driver on a motorcycle. Officials said the suspects were paid about $7,800 for the shooting.

“At this moment, they are being interrogated and we will continue deepening the investigation to get to the truth about what happened,” said Jean Alian Rodriguez, the Dominican Republic’s chief prosecutor.

Police are reportedly still searching for four other suspects in connection with the attack. Ortiz, who was flown to Boston for medical treatment, remains in “guarded” condition but has been able to sit up and take some steps, his wife Tiffany said last week.