Wednesday 8 April 2015 23:28, UK
Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland, his wife and another woman were stabbed early Wednesday following an argument outside a Manhattan nightclub that also led to the arrest of two other NBA players.
In a statement, the Pacers confirmed Copeland suffered a knife wound to his left elbow and abdomen and is in stable condition.
"We are aware that Chris Copeland was injured early this morning in New York City," Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird said.
"We are still gathering information and will update when we know more. Our thoughts are with Chris and those injured."
The violence broke out just before 4 am Wednesday outside 1Oak Club. Police say the couple were arguing on the street as the attacker eavesdropped, and started to interfere.
The dispute escalated until the 22-year-old suspect, who is now in custody, pulled out a knife and started slashing, police said.
Copeland was stabbed in the left elbow and abdomen and his wife, Katrine Saltara, was slashed in the arm and across the breast.
The second woman, who was believed to be with the attacker, was slashed in the abdomen. The victims were hospitalized and in stable condition, police said. A knife was recovered at the scene.
Atlanta Hawks players Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha were arrested on charges of obstructing the crime scene, after police said they blocked officers from trying to start their investigation.
The players were in town to play the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on Wednesday night.
The team arrived late Tuesday, after beating the Phoenix Suns in Atlanta in a victory that set a single-season franchise record with 58 wins.
It also emerged on Wednesday that the Phoenix Suns' Marcus and Markieff Morris are being investigated on allegations that they beat a former mentor.
Phoenix police say they are seeking aggravated assault charges against the Morris twins and three others in the alleged January attack.
According to police documents made available Wednesday, Erik Hood was leaving a basketball game on January 24 at a Phoenix sports complex when he was approached by one of the five.
Hood told police that five people, including the Morris brothers, repeatedly kicked and hit him.
