On Monday night, UFC bantamweight fighter Roman Taveras narrowly escaped a life-threatening drive-by shooting while leaving his mother’s house in Jacksonville, Florida. The harrowing incident was captured on security footage, which Taveras later shared on Instagram to highlight the gravity of the situation.
In his social media post, Taveras expressed his frustration and disbelief, writing, “It’s unfortunate that I even have to make a post like this, but I cannot let this be swept under the rug.”
The attack occurred on July 29, 2024, at approximately 10:05 pm. Taveras described how a group of armed men approached his vehicle, intent on taking his life. Thanks to a stroke of luck. He was unharmed and managed to return fire in self-defense after retrieving his own firearm. He criticized the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) for their inadequate response. Drawing a parallel to the unsolved murder of his brother in 2019, which he says remains neglected by law enforcement.
Taveras recounted his disappointment with JSO, claiming they presumed his involvement in gang-related violence or a self-inflicted conflict despite his insistence on his innocence. “JSO did the bare minimum for my brother and is now doing the same for me. They assumed I was involved in something that brought this upon myself,” he said.
He emphasized his transformation over the past decade and the shock of such a violent encounter in his current life. “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,” Taveras declared.
Taveras expressed concern for his family’s safety and his own future. Stating that the violence has forced him to reconsider his ties to the city he once loved. He vowed to use his platform to advocate against what he perceives as JSO’s indifference to the suffering of less fortunate communities. “I am blessed and happy to be alive, but I’m leaving Duval,” he concluded.
The security video shared by Taveras shows him exiting his mother’s house and walking toward his car when shooting occurred. He took cover behind the vehicle until the attackers fled, then drew his weapon and fired back.
Taveras entered the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series, where he initially lost to Serhiy Sidey but quickly redeemed himself by defeating Cortavious Romious in just 29 seconds. This victory secured him a UFC contract, and he made his promotional debut in January, avenging his loss to Sidey. He was scheduled to fight Caolan Loughran at UFC 304 but had to withdraw due to injury.
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