JACKSONVILLE, Florida. – A video shared with News4JAX shows the shocking moments when bullets narrowly missed a UFC fighter outside a Jacksonville home.
On July 29, Ramon Taveras said he left his mother’s house to go outside and get diapers from his trunk in the Southside Estates neighborhood.
“That’s when I heard the first shot and ducked,” he said.
In the Ring doorbell camera video, several gunshots can be heard as Taveras hides behind his car for protection.
“To be honest, man, when that happened, I thought I was dead. I thought I was going to die,” he said.
Taveras said he then took out his gun and returned fire. Shortly afterward, his family ran outside screaming.
“God chose me to leave the house that day. You know, it could have been my little brother. It could have been my wife and kids. It could have been my mother,” he said.
The Taveras family has experienced tragedy before.
Taveras’ brother Gabriel was shot and killed along with another person in an apartment complex on Atlantic Boulevard on December 7, 2019. The case remains unsolved to this day.
Taveras said his family is still hoping for answers in the case.
“I want them caught, you know? I want them to pay for what they did. Especially if it has something to do with my brother, you know, we’ve been waiting for some kind of closure and it hasn’t happened yet and that would bring a lot of peace to me and my family,” he said.
Taveras said he had no idea who stopped in front of his mother’s house and opened fire.
“I’m not doing anything. I’m not bothering anyone. I’m not hurting anyone. You know, I’m showing my city a lot of love. I’m going to show my love to everyone,” Taveras said.
News4JAX reached out to JSO regarding the shooting and provided the following statement:
“Investigators are working through available evidence, possibly including surveillance video, to determine the circumstances and possible suspects in the case. Once we have identified and verified the suspect, we will release any available information or video to the public if it may lead to the identification of the suspect.”
Taveras said he has since left the city for safety reasons and to train privately because of the shooting.
For now, he is continuing his training and the investigation is ongoing.
“I’m hoping I can get some kind of help from the UFC so I can move out of the state,” he said.
If you have any information about the incident, you are asked to contact JSO or First Coast Crimestoppers at [email protected] or call 904-630-0500.
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