6/10 8:00 PM PT -- Ortiz is back in Boston and receiving treatment at the Massachusetts General Hospital ... this after taking a medical air ambulance back to the States.
A police escort led Ortiz's ambulance to the hospital.
Big Papi @davidortiz just arrived at Mass General Hospital for treatment after being shot. #WCVB pic.twitter.com/cplttNArfH
6/10 3:05 PM PT -- Officials in the Dominican Republic say they believe the man they have in custody was NOT the shooter, but rather the getaway driver.
The man accused of shooting Ortiz -- whose identity is still a mystery -- is still on the lam, according to officials.
6/10 2:37 PM PT -- David Ortiz has left the hospital in Santo Domingo and is en route to the airport to fly to Boston.
The flight, organized by the Boston Red Sox, is approximately 4 hours and doctors in the D.R. and in Boston have agreed that Ortiz is stable enough to make the journey.
David Ortiz in that ambulance. About to get placed on the plane back to Boston for care #David Ortiz #wvcb pic.twitter.com/T9XhMph6E0
6/10 1:08 PM PT -- David Ortiz's father, Leo Ortiz, is speaking with reporters in the D.R. -- saying he wants to thank the doctors for "saving my son's life."
Leo said David WILL be transported to Boston -- and explained that David's personal doctors and his wife live in Massachusetts.
David's doctor said the surgery was successful -- noting the bullet struck the liver, the small and large intestines. He says Ortiz's gall bladder was removed to make space to treat the affected organs.
6/10 12:36 PM PT -- Boston Red Sox management just addressed the media and said Ortiz's condition is still serious following Sunday night's shooting but he's stable enough to travel back to the United States.
In fact, the Red Sox have organized for a medical air ambulance to transport Ortiz from Santo Domingo to Boston ... and the goal is to fly him to the U.S. as early as Monday night.
As we previously reported, Ortiz was shot Sunday evening while sitting outside at a club in the Dominican Republic. The incident was captured on surveillance video.
The Red Sox have sent representatives to the Dominican Republic to help and team doctors are aiding in Ortiz's medical care.
Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy told the media, "Our hope is that David will arrive in Boston sometime later tonight. Right now, the clubs exclusive focus is on David's health and well being."
"Please know that we are doing everything we can to support David and his family during this very difficult period."
Kennedy says he's been in touch with David's wife, Tiffany, who expressed gratitude for all the club is doing to help.
Kennedy says it's been an emotional time for him because he knows Ortiz so well -- and explained, "I love David Ortiz. We all love David Ortiz. Telling my kids what happened was really difficult."
6/10 10:38 AM PT -- The Boston Red Sox have sent a jet to the Dominican Republic. They are hoping to fly Ortiz back to the United States as soon as possible to receive medical care.
Ortiz's doctor in the D.R. has told ESPN the MLB legend is stable enough to fly.
6/10 9:07 AM PT -- Barack Obama has also sent a message to Ortiz ... saying, "Six years ago, David Ortiz's spirit and resolve helped us all begin to heal from the Boston Marathon bombing. Today, I want to join many others in wishing him a speedy recovery of his own. Get well soon, Papi."
6/10 8:50 AM PT -- Tom Brady just sent a message to Ortiz ... saying, "Papi defines Boston Strong... get well soon my friend!!!"
6/10 7:58 AM PT -- Cops say there are TWO suspects in the shooting, both young men ... who rolled up to the scene on the same motorcycle.
Cops say after the shooting, both men tried to get back on the bike and drive off ... but the bike fell down so they tried to make a run for it.
The first suspect, Eddy Vladimir Feliz Garcia, was subdued by people at the scene.
The second suspect did escape on foot. Cops have not released the name of the 2nd suspect. They are currently searching for him.
6/10 7:13 AM PT -- TMZ Sports talked to a spokesperson for the Dominican National Police who told us the suspect is in custody and awaiting charges.
The police also confirmed videos showing a man getting pummeled in the street following the shooting IS, IN FACT, THE SUSPECT.
A crowd of people subdued the suspect after the shooting and beat the hell out of him, leaving him bloodied and desperate for medical attention.
When cops arrived, they were able to take him into custody and get him medical treatment.
Cops tell us the investigation is still very active and no charges have been brought against the suspect yet.
6/10 6:51 AM PT -- Ortiz's assistant, Leo Lopez, says David suffered damage to multiple internal organs.
In a statement to ESPN, Lopez said, "Ortiz had to remove parts of the intestines and the colon and remove the gallbladder. His liver was damaged, too."
6/10 5:50 AM PT -- The shooting was captured on surveillance video -- you can see the gunman pull up on the street and fire at Ortiz from behind while he was eating at a table.
Cops say the shooting was at "nearly point-blank range."
6/10 5:35 AM PT -- Ortiz's father and other family members were photographed at the hospital, where they were speaking to media about David's condition.
6/10 5:22 AM PT -- Red Sox posted a statement on Twitter Sunday night, saying, "David's family has confirmed that he sustained a gunshot wound to the lower back/abdominal region. David is being treated at Clinica Abel Gonzalez in Santo Domingo where he is recovering after surgery."
The statement continues, "We have offered David's family all available resources to aid in his recovery and will continue to keep them in our hearts."
8:57 PM PT -- Ortiz was reportedly shot in the lower back -- and the bullet exited through his stomach, according to ESPN, which has a reporter at the hospital where the MLB star is being treated.
A doctor working on Ortiz told ESPN the baseball star went into surgery but everything is going as well as it can be and he's currently "out of danger."
When he arrived to the hospital, Ortiz reportedly told his doctors, "Please don't let me die. I'm a good man."
A police official has also told local media the incident was NOT a "robbery" -- but would not give a possible motive for the incident.
Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz -- aka "Big Papi" -- was shot while hanging out at a nightclub Sunday in the Dominican Republic, his father confirmed.
The 43-year-old was at Dial Bar and Lounge in Santo Domingo when a gunman burst into the place and opened fire, striking Ortiz once.
Ortiz was put inside of an ambulance and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. His condition is unknown at this point.
Ortiz's father, Leo Ortiz, confirmed the incident to ESPN ... saying, "They called to tell me that David is injured and that they took him to a medical center, but they did not tell me how he is or exactly where he was transferred."
Leo, who is currently in the Dominican Republic, added, "At the moment, everything is confusing. I'm trying to find out where they took my son."
The suspect has reportedly been arrested.
Ortiz was born in Santo Domingo and grew up in the D.R. before moving to the United States to play baseball after signing with the Seattle Mariners when he turned 17.
Of course, Ortiz went on to play 20 seasons in the big leagues -- and became a Boston legend in the process ... leading the Red Sox to 3 World Series titles. He was the World Series MVP in 2013.
Ortiz was a 10-time All-Star during his pro baseball career and his #34 jersey has already been retired by the Sox.
Story developing ...
Originally Published -- 6/9 7:32 PM PT