INDIANAPOLIS — Several sources, including ESPN and TMZ, have indicated that former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez was seriously injured in a stabbing in downtown Indianapolis early Saturday morning.
According to information obtained by FOX59/CBS4, the individual who allegedly stabbed Sanchez is claiming self-defense while calling the former NFL quarterback the aggressor in the encounter.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, just after 12:30 a.m., officers responded to the 300 block of West Washington Street on the report of a person shot. When police arrived, they found one person stabbed and another injured.
IMPD has since announced that Sanchez has been arrested for his role in the incident.
“I was stunned,” football fan Brian Winfrey said of Sanchez’s arrest in an interview with FOX59/CBS4. “I really can’t believe it … We’ve seen him over the years when he played and on-air. I imagine that might be over now.”
He was arrested at the hospital for battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication, which are all misdemeanors.
Sanchez remains in the hospital and has not been booked into the Marion County Jail, according to IMPD.
Police sources and court records indicate the other person involved in the incident is 69 years old.
According to IMPD, a physical disturbance happened that involved two males with one man receiving “lacerations” and the other sustaining injuries consistent with stab wounds.
Police have reported that, like Sanchez, the other person involved in the incident is not a local resident.
FOX59/CBS4 obtained additional information about the incident, however, including the account of the individual involved in the stabbing incident with Sanchez.
According to a source, the stabbing took place near Loughmiller’s Pub & Eatery. Sanchez was allegedly stabbed in the chest, taken to the hospital for surgery, and is the individual listed as being in critical condition by police, sources say.
The second individual also reportedly had “significant injuries” and claimed Sanchez was the aggressor in the incident and that he was merely defending himself with a knife.
A source with knowledge of the situation reported that police made the decision to arrest Sanchez after they reviewed area surveillance video and spoke with the other person involved in the incident.
Per the source, the other person involved in the incident was a grease disposal truck operator that works with local restaurants. That driver and Sanchez got into the altercation, according to the source, when Sanchez told the driver he was upset that the grease disposal truck was blocking a nearby alley.
The source also indicated that Sanchez was acting erratically and had started doing wind sprints in the alley before the stabbing occurred.
Police found a trail of blood in the alley. That trail of blood ran by Pronta Pizza, where Lupe Martinez is employed.
“A customer actually brought it to my attention,” Martinez said of the trail of blood during an interview with FOX59/CBS4.
According to FOX59/CBS4 sources, Sanchez wasn’t cooperative with responding police officers.
The other person involved in the incident told police he initially tried to defend himself from Sanchez by using pepper spray. When that didn’t ward Sanchez off, the victim allegedly used a knife to defend himself.
It is important to note that FOX59/CBS4 sources said that Sanchez has not yet given his account of how events unfolded.
Both Sanchez and the other victim were transported to hospitals.
“It’s just unfortunate that these things are happening in Indianapolis, and especially such a beautiful downtown area,” Martinez said. “We have people visit outside of the state and what an impression that’s going to leave on folks.”
Sanchez was scheduled to broadcast the Colts-Raiders game at Lucas Oil Stadium with FOX Sports on Sunday. FOX Sports has since indicated that former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn will fill in for Sanchez on Sunday.
Sanchez, a 38-year-old former New York Jets quarterback, starred at USC from 2005-2008 and was selected fifth overall by the Jets in the 2009 NFL Draft.
“I hope no one is hurt long term,” Winfrey said. “I feel sorry for Mark Sanchez, I mean, this is a career-ender.”
FOX59/CBS4 reached out to FOX Sports officials, who responded with the following statement:
Mark Sanchez was injured in Indianapolis on Saturday and is currently recovering in the hospital in stable condition. We are deeply grateful to the medical team for their exceptional care and support. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, and we ask that everyone please respect his and his family’s privacy during this time.
-FOX Sports
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett issued the following statement in response to the incident:
I’m monitoring reports of an altercation in our city involving two individuals who do not appear to live in Indianapolis. Our city takes pride in being a destination that draws people from near and far, but it’s important that everyone who visits or enjoys our community does so respectfully and peacefully. I’m grateful to the IMPD officers and Indianapolis EMS medical professionals who responded immediately to provide life-saving care. IMPD continues to thoroughly investigate this isolated incident.
– Mayor Joe HogsettBoth FOX Sports and Hogsett released their statements before IMPD announced that it had arrested Sanchez. In a message sent to FOX59/CBS4 Saturday night, FOX Sports indicated that it had no additional information comment on Sanchez’s arrest.