UFC star Ramon Taveras narrowly escaped death when he was targeted in a drive-by shooting near his mother’s house in Jacksonville, Florida. The attack occurred on July 29, 2024, at around 10:05 PM, as Taveras was leaving his mother’s residence.
According to Taveras’ account, a group of armed men in a vehicle opened fire on him. Fortunately, Taveras was able to respond with his own firearm, forcing the shooters to flee the scene. “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,” Taveras said in a social media post.
This incident has left Taveras shaken, as it comes just a few years after he lost his brother to gun violence in the same city. “This city is unforgiving, and it’s worse that JSO 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,” he lamented.
Taveras, who made his UFC debut in January 2024, was scheduled to face Caolán Loughran at UFC 304 but had to withdraw due to an injury. The drive-by shooting has added to the challenges he has faced in his professional and personal life.
Despite the traumatic experience, Taveras is thankful to be alive. “I am blessed and happy to be alive, but I’m leaving duval,” he stated, indicating his plans to move away from the city that has brought him so much heartache.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has not yet released a public statement regarding the incident, and it remains unclear if any arrests have been made. Taveras’ story serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers that athletes, and the general public, can face in certain areas of the country.
