[UPDATE BELOW] Three people, including ex-Knicks power forward Chris Copeland, were stabbed in an incident earlier this morning outside the Chelsea club 1OAK. The alleged attacker was arrested, as were "two members of the Atlanta Hawks, Pero Antić and Thabo Sefolosha... for trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene," according to the Daily News.
The incident occurred around 4 a.m. today outside the nightclub at 453 West 17th Street. The Post reports that Copeland and his wife had been arguing and a man named Shezon Bleary "interrupted them": "Copeland told the man to get lost, which is when the suspect allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Copeland in the stomach, police sources said. Bleary then turned the blade on the basketball player’s wife, Katrine Saltara, and stabbed her in the breast, buttocks and arm, police sources said. Another woman, who was known to the stabber, was also attacked."
Bleary may have "been trying to listen in on a conversation."
The other victim was identified as Catherine Somani, who the News describes as "a friend of Bleary's" present during the incident: "It is believed that she was slashed by accident, the sources said. 'She was with him, and in the course of what he was doing, (he) slashed her in the abdomen.'" She was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital while Copeland and Saltara were taken to Bellevue Hospital; all are expected to survive.
Bleary, 22, was arrested at the scene. Antic was reportedly charged with obstructing governmental administration, disorderly conduct and menacing, while Sefolosha's charges include resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct. Sefolosha apparently "charged at an officer" while Antic "physically grabbed another police officer."
Antic, Sefolosha and the Hawks were in town to play the Nets this evening; Copeland and the Pacers are in town to play the Knicks tonight. Pacers fans have been flooding Copeland's most recent Instagram post with get well wishes:
1OAK had promoted an evening with Dej Loaf last night. (It appears the singer celebrated her birthday at the club.)
Update: 1OAK has issued this statement: "1OAK is extremely concerned with the safety of its patrons and the community. Mr. Copeland and his wife were accosted in front of Fulton Houses where the unfortunate incident occurred after an altercation with the perpetrator. As a committed community member and partner, 1OAK was fully cooperative with NYPD and a review of the video footage seems to reveal the incident did not originate from or surrounding the venue. Mr. Copeland’s driver sprang to accost and detain the apparent perpetrator and that individual is in police custody. The incident occurred beyond the view of our security. Once alerted the venue provided all assistance possible."
