The former NFL player turned celebrated chef Tobias Dorzon is recovering after a harrowing attempted robbery left him hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
Dorzon, 39, and his partner were attacked late Tuesday night as they returned to their home in Hyattsville, Maryland. The pair had just exited their black Cadillac Escalade when four suspects reportedly approached them, emerging from a white vehicle.
The assailants opened fire, with dozens of shots ringing out as Dorzon pleaded for his life.
In surveillance footage obtained by NBC, Dorzon can be heard saying, “Please don’t kill me, bro. Please,” while a woman’s voice and his own call out desperately for bystanders to “please call 911.” The Police are actively investigating and have announced a search for five individuals who are believed to be involved.
Dorzon’s mother, Patience, shared her relief that her son survived the traumatic ordeal and expressed hope that police would swiftly bring the attackers to justice.
“I’m praying they catch the people who did it,” she told the “Washington Post”, adding that no mother should endure such pain. “I’m asking for total healing for my son. He means the world to me; that’s my baby.”
In the culinary world, Tobias Dorzon has made a name for himself since leaving the NFL. After a brief career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he pivoted to his passion for food, quickly rising in the restaurant scene.
Dorzon owns two popular eateries, Huncho House and 1123, both located in Hyattsville, and was honored as Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland this year.
Known for his culinary prowess and charismatic personality, he also stars in the cooking show “Timeout With Tobias”, available on ESPN+ and Hulu.
The chef Tobias Dorzon remains in stable condition, with family, friends, and fans hoping for a full recovery.
