Tobias Dorzon, a renowned Maryland chef who has been featured on the Food Network and is known for cooking for celebrities and athletes, is recuperating from a shooting incident that left him and his girlfriend hospitalized last week. The entire assault was captured on camera. Dorzon, a former NFL player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans, expressed his gratitude for being on the path to recovery in a statement posted on the Instagram pages of his two Hyattsville restaurants, Huncho House and 1123 By Chef Tobias.
The incident occurred on the night of November 5, as Dorzon and his girlfriend were returning home from dinner. According to the Hyattsville Police, they were ambushed by five armed assailants. Surveillance footage, initially obtained by TMZ and Fox affiliate WTTG, shows the attackers approaching Dorzon and his girlfriend around 10:15 p.m. in the 2500 block of Kirkwood Place in Hyattsville, a suburb of Washington, D.C.
The surveillance cameras in the area recorded the alleged attackers arriving and departing in a white SUV with a sunroof. The suspects, who were wearing jackets and hoods, were armed with semiautomatic handguns and one was allegedly carrying a short rifle. Hyattsville Police Department Chief Jarod J. Towers described the incident as “barbarous activity and conduct by violent criminals.”
Prince George’s County Councilmember Wanika Fisher, who represents the area where the shooting took place, expressed her desire for justice. She described Dorzon as a valued member of the District 2 community and a dear friend, and expressed her deepest sympathies to him, the second victim, and their families and friends.
Following the incident, Dorzon updated his followers on his condition and future plans through his personal Instagram account and his restaurant pages. He assured his followers that his team remains strong and his restaurants continue to serve their customers. Dorzon, who was named the 2024 Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland, is a beloved figure in the local DMV area, popular among both food enthusiasts and celebrities.
As of Sunday, the Hyattsville police were still searching for the alleged shooters.