This previous Monday, whereas leaving his mom’s home in Jacksonville, Fla., UFC bantamweight Roman Taveras narrowly escaped being killed in a drive-by capturing. Taveras launched safety video of the terrifying incident to his Instagram account.
“It’s unlucky that I even need to make a submit like this, however I can not let this be swept below the rug,” Taveras wrote on social media.
“Monday, July 29, 2024, at 10:05 pm, a bunch of armed males drove up on me at my mom’s home and tried to take my life. By the grace of God, I made it out with no accidents and was in a position to seize my very own firearm and return hearth in self-defense. This metropolis is unforgiving, and it’s worse that JSO [Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office] does nothing to right the issue. I misplaced my brother in 2019 as a result of gun violence, and his killers are but to be caught. Now I discover myself virtually in the identical state of affairs.
“JSO did the naked minimal for my brother and is now doing the identical for me. They assumed I used to be focused as a result of “gang violence” or an issue I precipitated. I don’t hassle anybody, I keep in my very own lane, I give attention to my profession and household. Even after explaining this, they continued to insinuate that I used to be concerned in one thing that introduced this final result upon myself.
“No one is ideal, and everybody has a previous. Nevertheless, I’ve modified considerably from who I used to be ten years in the past. For such an incident to happen out of nowhere is alarming. It makes me view my life and household by way of a wholly completely different lens. It is a day by day actuality in my metropolis; I’m not the primary, nor will I be the final. I’m bored with remaining silent about my brother’s case, and I refuse to let this incident slide both. Many different households in my metropolis have endured related conditions, crying out for justice simply as my household is.
“My household feels unsafe, and I concern for my youngsters, who practically misplaced their father the individual striving to alter their lives. It’s tragic that I’ve a lot love for my metropolis, but I’m compelled to go away. I’ll use this example to talk out in opposition to the ineffectiveness of JSO and their disregard for the much less lucky components of town. They appear detached as to if lives are misplaced or in danger. I’m sick of it! This might have been a memorial submit; I might have misplaced my life identical to my brother, or any individual else might have misplaced theirs making an attempt to take mine. I’m carried out being silent. I ask on your assist in spreading this message so far as we will.
“I’m blessed and comfortable to be alive, however I’m leaving Duval.”
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Within the video, Taveras might be seen leaving his mom’s home and strolling towards a automotive when a car opened hearth on him from the road. Taveras positioned himself behind the cardboard till the car drove away. Taveras drew his firearm and returned photographs.
Taveras made his technique to the UFC by way of Dana White’s Contender Sequence. He appeared twice within the promotion. He was defeated by Serhiy Sidey within the first spherical. He was given a second alternative and completed Cortavious Romious in 29 seconds. The win earned him a UFC contract. He made his promotional debut in January and avenged the earlier loss to Sidey. He was slated to face Caolan Loughran at UFC 304 however was compelled out of the bout as a result of harm.
