UFC fighter Ramon Taveras has reported a terrifying incident where a “group of armed men” attempted to shoot him outside his mother’s house in Duval, Florida.
The 30-year-old fighter released doorbell footage from July 29 showing a vehicle driving by and opening fire as he exited the residence. Originally from Jacksonville, Taveras tragically lost his brother to gun violence in 2019, a loss that still weighs heavily on him.
“His killers have yet to be caught. Now I find myself almost in the same situation,” Taveras wrote on Instagram, expressing his fears. “My family feels unsafe, and I worry for my children, who nearly lost their father—someone striving to change their lives. It’s tragic that I have so much love for my city, yet I feel compelled to leave.”
In 2023, Jacksonville recorded 157 homicides, with shootings responsible for 123 of those deaths. Taveras reported the shooting to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and shared his experience of the investigation.
“They assumed I was targeted due to ‘gang violence’ or a problem I caused,” he explained. “I don’t bother anyone; I stay in my own lane, focusing on my career and family. Despite my clarification, they continued to insinuate that I was involved in something that led to this outcome.”
Taveras acknowledged that everyone has a past but emphasized that he has made significant changes over the last decade. “For such an incident to occur out of nowhere is alarming. It changes how I view my life and family,” he admitted. “This is a daily reality in my city; I am not the first, nor will I be the last.”
Taveras secured his position on the UFC roster through Dana White’s Contender Series last October and made his UFC debut in January, winning against Serhiy Sidey by split decision, improving his record to ten wins and two losses. As a father of four, he now plans to leave Duval County for the safety of his family.
BBC Sport has reached out to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for comment.
Credit: BBC Sport
