Food Network Star Tobias Dorzon Speaks Out After Being Shot 11 Times During Robbery: ‘Grateful to Be Here’

For celebrity chef Tobias Dorzon, the night of November 5, 2024, began like any other date night. The 40-year-old, known for his appearances on the Food Network and recently named Maryland Chef of the Year, balances two thriving restaurants — Huncho House and 1123 by Chef Tobias — with a long-distance relationship and a promise to his girlfriend, Crystal Swan, to always make time for their biweekly date nights.

That evening, the couple headed to Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Northwest Washington, D.C. The restaurant was calm, with a few guests at the bar watching Election Night coverage. After dinner, they called an Uber for the 30-minute ride home to Dorzon’s house in Hyattsville, Maryland. When their car arrived, Dorzon noticed another vehicle stop behind them. At first, he thought nothing of it — until several people jumped out, guns drawn.

“I was trying to cover her, and then I started getting hit,” Dorzon recalls. “I went to the ground and tried to drag myself toward the curb, but I couldn’t hear my girl. Everything went completely quiet.”

The robbers took his Audemars Piguet watch, a diamond necklace, and other valuables. According to WJLA, police later said the stolen items were worth around $100,000. Dorzon was shot 11 times; Swan was also wounded and collapsed on the lawn. Despite his injuries, Dorzon managed to FaceTime his brother to tell him what had happened before losing consciousness.

Authorities identified one of the suspects as Devin Demetrius Spivey, 21, who faces multiple charges including attempted murder, armed robbery, and assault. Spivey has pleaded not guilty. His attorney, Brendan Callahan, said, “It is still an ongoing investigation and there are numerous other suspects still at large. We are confident that further investigation will reveal that Devin Spivey did not shoot Mr. Dorzon.” The trial is scheduled to begin December 5.

When Dorzon woke up in the hospital, doctors told him he might never walk again. He had lost all feeling below his left knee. His 39-year-old girlfriend survived and remained by his side through the early stages of his recovery.

“I really didn’t know what to take from everything,” Dorzon says. “I came home to build something in my hometown. Being a hometown hero, I thought something like that could never happen to me.”

He admits the night left him questioning every decision. “Was I wrong for going out that night? Should I have stayed home? There are so many things I ask myself, but I tell myself every day that God has a bigger purpose for me.”

After two months in the hospital and several surgeries, Dorzon defied medical expectations. He now attends physical therapy three days a week, rebuilding strength and mobility. Though he lost sensation in one finger, he continues to make steady progress.

Throughout his recovery, fellow chef and Food Network icon Guy Fieri offered steadfast support. The two reunited in February in a heartwarming viral video showing Dorzon walking toward Fieri with a cane. “Even after the shooting, he was constantly checking in, making sure the hospital took care of me, sending food, and encouraging me,” Dorzon says. “He’s been here every step of the way.”

The ordeal also brought Dorzon’s family closer — including his daughters, Riley, 19, and Torienne, 11. “It’s unfortunate that something so traumatic brought us together, but ever since that night, my family’s been like glue,” he says.

Now, exactly a year later, Dorzon is returning to television with Food Network’s Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas. His near-death experience has reshaped how he works in the kitchen — he moves more deliberately, paying attention to every detail of his craft.

“I’m just super grateful to still be here and to still be able to cook,” he says. “That’s always been my dream — to create a memorable food experience for others.”