Food Network star Tobias Dorzon recently recounted the harrowing night he was shot 11 times during an armed robbery. In a candid interview with People magazine, Dorzon, known for his appearances on Guy Fieri’s “Guy’s Grocery Games” and “Tournament of Champions,” reflected on the traumatic events of November 5, 2024, and how he managed to survive the attack.

Dorzon had just returned to his Maryland home after a date night in the city with his girlfriend, Crystal Swan. The couple had just stepped out of their Uber when they noticed a group of armed individuals approaching them. That evening, Dorzon had opted to go without his security detail.

“I was trying to cover [my girlfriend, Crystal Swan], and then I started getting hit,” Dorzon told People. “I went to the ground and tried to drag myself toward the curb, but I couldn’t hear my girl.”

In the moments following the attack, Dorzon described the chilling uncertainty he faced. “You got that last second of almost thinking, are you still going to be here? People walking toward 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.”

He continued, “At that point, I’m thinking they’re going to pretty much finish me off,” recalling how his hands were covered in blood as he fought for survival. His girlfriend Swan was also shot and collapsed in their front yard.

Despite his severe injuries, Dorzon managed to FaceTime his brother by placing his phone on the curb where he had fallen. Meanwhile, a neighbor called 911 for help.

According to charging documents obtained by WJLA, the stolen items included Dorzon’s Audemars Piguet watch and a diamond necklace valued at approximately $100,000. Five suspects fled the scene in a stolen vehicle.

Authorities later identified one of the suspects as 21-year-old Devin Demetrius Spivey, who faces 18 charges including attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed robbery, and stalking. Spivey has pleaded not guilty.

“It is still an ongoing investigation and there are numerous other suspects still at large,” said Spivey’s attorney, Brendan Callahan. “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.”

Dorzon, whose girlfriend also survived the ordeal, was informed that due to the severity of his injuries below the knee, he might never walk again.

“I really didn’t know what to take from everything,” he shared. “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.”

He admitted to grappling with the experience daily. “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.”

Following the shooting, Dorzon spent two months in the hospital recovering. He underwent multiple surgeries and rounds of physical therapy, a journey he shared glimpses of on his Instagram.

Dorzon also received immense support from Guy Fieri. “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,” Dorzon said. “He’s been here for me the whole time, every step of the way.”

Now preparing to return to television with the premiere of Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas,” Dorzon is adjusting to life post-shooting. While he has lost feeling in one of his fingers, which affects his speed in the kitchen, he remains grateful for his recovery.

“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,” he expressed. “That has always been my biggest focus and my dream, to create a memorable food experience for others.”
https://nypost.com/2025/11/06/entertainment/food-network-chef-tobias-dorzon-walking-after-being-shot-11-times-in-maryland-armed-robbery/