Pacers’ Chris Copeland stabbed at New York nightclub, authorities say

Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland was stabbed and his wife was slashed outside a New York nightclub early Wednesday morning, authorities said.

Authorities told the Associated Press that Copeland was stabbed in the abdomen and right elbow and that his wife was slashed on an arm and her chest after the couple got into an argument with the man who allegedly attacked them.

According to the report, police arrested the alleged attacker, Shzoy Bleary, and also arrested Atlanta Hawks teammates Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha. The newspaper reported that Antic and Sefolosha were taken into custody after they tried to prevent police officers from setting up a crime scene.

Antic and Sefolosha were later released, police said.

Police told the Associated Press that Copeland and his wife were arguing on the street outside the nightclub when the alleged attacker tried to interfere. The suspect then took out a knife and started to slash people in the group, police said.

Authorities told the AP that Copeland, 31, and his wife, Katrine Saltara, 28, were hospitalized with minor injuries and were listed in stable condition. They said a second woman, Catherine Somani, also suffered minor injuries during the argument, which occurred shortly before 4 a.m. EDT, shortly before the club was about to close.

The incident was first reported by the New York Daily News.

Larry Bird, Pacers president of basketball operations, released a statement about the incident: “We are aware that Chris Copeland was injured early this morning in New York City. We are still gathering information and will update when we know more. Our thoughts are with Chris and those injured.”

The Pacers are scheduled to play the New York Knicks on Wednesday. The Pacers haven’t announced whether Copeland will be available to play.

The Hawks told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that they are aware of Antic’s and Sefolosha’s involvement in the incident: “We are in the process of gathering more information and will have further comment at the appropriate time,” the team said in a statement.

Copeland, who played with the Knicks during the 2012-13 season, is averaging 6.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game this season.