Ramon Taveras, a recent UFC recruit from the Contender Series, has posted security video footage of him surviving a drive-by shooting at his mother’s house in Jacksonville, Florida late last month.
In the video from July 29th Taveras is seen walking to his car before another vehicle drives by and opens fire at him with a semi-automatic weapon. Fortunately he was able to hide behind his car until they passed by without being hit, before drawing his own weapon and firing back at them as they left the scene.
In a lengthy, heart-felt post Tavares explained how his brother had previously been killed in 2019 after being shot and he now fears for his own family’s safety too.
The 30-year-old Taveras insists that though he had his troubles a decade ago, but has long since moved on from that lifestyle.
Taveras booked his spot in the UFC last October when he earned a TKO victory on the Contender Series and has since gone on to win his debut in the Octagon via split-decision. He had actually been scheduled to fight again at UFC 304 on July 27th in Manchester, England, just two days before the shooting, but had to withdraw from the event beforehand due to an injury.
Check out Tavares full post below and scroll down to watch the video.
“It’s unfortunate that I even have to make a post like this, but I cannot let this be swept under the rug,” Taveras wrote on social media.
“Monday, July 29, 2024, at 10:05 pm, a group of armed men drove up on me at my mother’s house and tried to take my life. By the grace of God, I made it out with no injuries and was able to grab my own firearm and return fire in self-defense. This city is unforgiving, and it’s worse that JSO [Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office] does nothing to correct the problem. I lost my brother in 2019 due to gun violence, and his killers are yet to be caught. Now I find myself almost in the same situation.
“JSO did the bare minimum for my brother and is now doing the same for me. They assumed I was targeted due to “gang violence” or a problem I caused. I don’t bother anyone, I stay in my own lane, I focus on my career and family. Even after explaining this, they continued to insinuate that I was involved in something that brought this outcome upon myself.
“Nobody is perfect, and everyone has a past. However, I have changed significantly from who I was ten years ago. For such an incident to occur out of nowhere is alarming. It makes me view my life and family through an entirely different lens. This is a daily reality in my city; I am not the first, nor will I be the last. I am tired of remaining silent about my brother’s case, and I refuse to let this incident slide either. Many other families in my city have endured similar situations, crying out for justice just as my family is.
“My family feels unsafe, and I fear for my children, who nearly lost their father the person striving to change their lives. It is tragic that I have so much love for my city, yet I am compelled to leave. I will use this situation to speak out against the ineffectiveness of JSO and their disregard for the less fortunate parts of the city. They seem indifferent to whether lives are lost or at risk. I am sick of it! This could have been a memorial post; I could have lost my life just like my brother, or somebody else could have lost theirs trying to take mine. I am done being silent. I ask for your support in spreading this message as far as we can.
“I am blessed and happy to be alive, but I’m leaving Duval.”
