Tobias Dorzon is speaking out after luckily surviving a horrific attack.
The 40-year-old Food Network star and former NFL player went on a date back in November with girlfriend Crystal Swan, 39, at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Washington, D.C., then took an Uber ride home to in Hyattsville, Maryland when a car stopped directly behind them at the residence.
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Several people reportedly came out of the car and began shooting, robbing him of his watch and necklace and other belongings worth about $100,000 altogether.
“I was trying to cover her and then I started getting hit. I went to the ground and tried to drag myself toward the curb, but I couldn’t hear my girl,” he told People in a new interview about the ordeal.
“You got that last second of almost thinking, are you still going to be here? People walking towards you that just shot you multiple times, what are they coming for? Are they coming to kill you? Are they coming to rob you? You really don’t know the end result. I’m just hoping my kids are good.”
Tobias has two daughters, Riley, 19, and Torienne, 11.
“At that point, I’m thinking they’re going to pretty much finish me off,” he went on to say describing the robbery.
Despite being shot an astonishing 11 times, Tobias was able to FaceTime his brother and explain what happened before passing out and waking up in a hospital. His girlfriend had also been shot and survived.
“I really didn’t know what to take from everything, For somebody that just never really been in trouble, I thought coming back home to build something in my hometown, being a hometown hero, something like that could never happen to me. I ask myself every day, ‘Was I wrong for going out that night? Should I have not went out that night?’ It’s just so many different things that I ask myself, but I’m here. I tell myself every day God got a bigger purpose for me,” Tobias explained, looking back.
He spent two months recovering in the hospital, and had multiple surgeries. He still does physical therapy regularly. He also said fellow Food Network star Guy Fieri has been a huge support.
“Even after the shooting, he was constantly on the phone with me checking in, making sure the medical staff were taking care of me, offering to order food for everyone, and just giving me words of encouragement. He’s been here for me the whole time, every step of the way,” Tobias said.
On Wednesday (November 5), he will return to TV with the premiere of Food Network’s Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas.
“I’m just super grateful to be here, to be in the moment, and to still be able to cook and give people an experience. That has always been my biggest focus and my dream, to create a memorable food experience for others,” he said.
Cops have since identified one suspect as Devin Demetrius Spivey, 21, who faces 18 charges, including attempted first and second-degree murder. He pled not guilty.
“It is still an ongoing investigation and there are numerous other suspects still at large. There are many unanswered questions in the case and we are confident that further investigation will reveal that Devin Spivey did not shoot Mr. Dorzon,” his lawyer told People in a statement.
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