Former NFL player-turned-celebrity chef Tobias Dorzon was hospitalized this week after he was shot during a stickup in Prince George’s County.
Hyattsville police said Mr. Dorzon and a woman with him were seriously wounded when five robbers opened fire on the pair and robbed them at about 10 p.m. Tuesday in the 2500 block of Kirkwood Place in Hyattsville.
The victims were rushed to the hospital shortly after. It’s unclear what kind of injuries they suffered, but police said both are expected to survive.
Police said no arrests have been made in the shooting at this time.
Prince George’s County Council member Wanika Fisher identified Mr. Dorzon as the male victim in the shooting and said she was “disheartened and saddened” to hear he’d been attacked.
“Such a horrible act couldn’t have happened to a better person,” Ms. Fisher said in a statement. “I am sending my deepest sympathies to him and the second victim, as well as their families and friends, and I wish them both a speedy recovery. We have no place for this kind of senseless violence in our district or our county.”
Mr. Dorzon, 39, runs restaurants Huncho House and 1123 By Chef Tobias in Hyattsville.
This year he also became the first person from Prince George’s County to be named the chef of the year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland.
Mr. Dorzon has participated in TV food competition shows in the past, such as “Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions,” “Guy’s Grocery Games” and “Chopped.”
He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans in the NFL before leaving the league to launch his culinary career.
Police released descriptions of four male suspects linked to the shooting.
Two of the robbers were last seen wearing black jackets with a hood and light-colored jeans, and one was wearing black and yellow sneakers.
Two other robbers were seen wearing black jackets with dark pants, and one had a white stripe on his pants.
Authorities said they are also looking for a small white SUV crossover with a sunroof in connection to the incident.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.