A renowned culinary expert from Maryland, celebrated as “Chef of the Year,” known for his appearances on the Food Network and his culinary creations for celebrities and athletes, is currently recuperating from a shocking shooting incident that hospitalized him and his girlfriend last week, with the entire event recorded on video.
“This incident shook us,” wrote ex-NFL star and chef Tobias Dorzon on Saturday in a statement posted to the Instagram pages for his two Hyattsville restaurants, Huncho House and 1123 By Chef Tobias. “I’m incredibly grateful to be on the road to recovery,” he said.
Dorzon, a former running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans, known for his appearances on various Food Network shows, was on his way home from dinner on the evening of November 5 when he and his girlfriend were confronted by five armed assailants, as reported by Hyattsville Police.
“Please don’t kill me, bro! Please don’t kill me!” Dorzon can be heard saying on surveillance video after the group starts shooting at him.
Video captured by TMZ and Fox affiliate WTTG reveals a group confronting Dorzon and his girlfriend in the 2500 block of Kirkwood Place in Hyattsville, a suburb of Washington, D.C., at approximately 10:15 p.m., according to the Hyattsville Police Department.
Footage from surveillance cameras in the vicinity captured the suspected attackers arriving and departing in a white SUV featuring a sunroof and an unidentified license plate. The individuals involved were dressed in jackets and hoods, with three of them armed with semiautomatic handguns and a fourth reportedly displaying a short rifle, according to HPD Chief Jarod J. Towers.
“This is barbarous activity and conduct by violent criminals,” Towers told reporters at a press conference last week.
Dorzon took to his personal Instagram over the weekend, as well as his restaurant pages, to share updates about his condition and what lies ahead following the shooting.
In a message shared via the Huncho House and 1123 By Chef Tobias platforms, Dorzon expressed: “My team is stronger than ever, and our doors remain open to serve you the food we love creating. If you’re wondering how to support, come by, make a reservation, and enjoy a meal with us. Your support means the world to me.”
Honored earlier this year as the 2024 Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland, Dorzon has become a beloved figure in the DMV area, attracting both culinary enthusiasts and celebrities alike, as evidenced by the numerous sightings of famous faces on his Instagram page.
As of Sunday, reports indicate that Hyattsville police were continuing their search for the individuals accused of shooting Dorzon.