Celebrity Chef Tobias Dorzon Shot During Attempted Robbery in Maryland

Tobias Dorzon stands outside of the restaurant prior to a soft opening at Thirteen in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 3, 2021. Carmen Mandato /Getty Images

Police are searching for five suspects involved in a double shooting that left former NFL player turned celebrity chef Tobias Dorzon and one other person hospitalized earlier this week.

Dorzon, 39, and an unidentified woman were shot during an attempted robbery in Hyattsville, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. located in Prince George’s County, Councilmember Wanika Fisher (D-District 2) has confirmed.

According to local police, the incident occurred on the evening of Nov. 5 on the 2500 block of Kirkwood Place.

“Initial information is 4 suspects attempted to rob a man and woman as they returned from dinner. The 2 were shot. They’ve been taken to the hospital,” the Hyattsville Police Department (HPD) shared in a statement posted to X.

In a subsequent update, the department reported that five suspects were believed to have been involved in the shooting.

In a later update, they said, three of the suspects were armed with semi-automatic handguns, and one was carrying a short-barreled rifle.

“We continue to work on a description of the fifth suspect,” the department said.

An HPD spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email that no arrests have been made at this time.

The public information officer was unable to give an update on either victim involved in the shooting. The Epoch Times reached out to a representative for Dorzon but a response was not received by publication time.

In a press release, Fisher said she was “disheartened and saddened” to learn that Dorzon was victimized in her district.

She said Dorzon owns two restaurants in Hyattsville and called him a “dear friend.”

“We have no place for this kind of senseless violence in our district or our county,” Fisher said. “I want to see those responsible for this heinous act held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, and I look forward to seeing Chef Dorzon back in the kitchen soon.”

Chef Dorzon

The celebrity chef, born Bloi-Dei Dorzon, served as a running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans before embarking on his culinary career.

After retiring from the NFL, Dorzon attended The Art Institute of Washington and the Italian Culinary Institute, where he honed his craft in the kitchen.

He went on to appear in several Food Network programs, including “Tournament of Champions,” “Chopped,” and “Guy’s Grocery Games,” even landing his own cooking program on ESPN+, titled “Timeout with Tobias.” More recently, Dorzon starred in the Food Network’s “Last Bite Hotel,” which debuted on Sept. 24.

Dorzon opened his first restaurant, Huncho House, on Hyattsville’s America Boulevard in 2022. The establishment features a fusion menu that merges the flavors of Asian, Italian, and West African cuisines.

His second concept, an upscale restaurant and lounge called 1123, debuted down the street from Huncho House earlier this year. Dorzon was set to host a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new eatery on Nov. 23, coinciding with his 40th birthday.

In April, Dorzon was named the 2024 Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland, becoming the first chef from Prince George’s County to receive the award.

“Chef Dorzon’s passion for food and commitment to elevating the dining experience in Prince George’s County has resulted in a restaurant where residents can explore exciting new cuisines and flavors close to home,” Fisher said in a statement at the time. “We’re incredibly fortunate that he is part of our community and thrilled for the opportunity to recognize and honor ... his culinary contributions.”