Robert Hoobler: Lil Wayne mourns death of ex-New Orleans cop, 65, who saved him as a boy
Update: Lil Wayne has now vowed to 'live for' his friend 'Uncle Bob'. He shared a photo of Robert Hoobler on Instagram and wrote: "Everything happens for a reason. I was dying when I met u at this very spot. U refused to let me die. Everything that doesn't happen, doesn't happen for a reason."
"That reason being you and faith. RIP uncle Bob. Aunt Kathie been waiting for u. I'll love miss u both and live for us all."
In the past, the former cop revealed that the rapper had offered to help him with finances when they met up in 2019, telling him 'all he has to do is say the word.'
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Lil Wayne is easily one of the most proclaimed hip-hop artists in the entire world, with countless records sold and received many awards decorating his cabinet. However, there was a time when he wouldn't have survived if it wasn't for Robert Hoobler aka Uncle Bob. Hoobler was the cop who saved the future rapper when he was 12 years old and shot himself in the chest.
Robert Hoobler, 65, was found dead at his apartment in Jefferson Parish on Friday, July 22, as per coroner Dr Gerry Cvitanovich. However, the cause of the death is unknown. Hoobler is the reason why Lil Wayne survived and the rapper has never turned away from crediting the former cop for the same. On the afternoon of November 11, 1994, Dwayne Michael Carter Jr aka Lil Wayne was 12 years old and had come home early. He found an unattended gun in one of the bedrooms of his house. The weapon belonged to a family friend who was not present at the moment.
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In an unexpected turn of events, the 12-year-old shot himself in the chest. He managed to call 911 and crawled to the front door, helplessly bleeding out. Hoobler heard and responded to the dispatcher while he was on his way to work an off-duty security detail as he turned towards the Hollygrove neighborhood. Upon finding the young boy, he immediately called for an ambulance but none were available, so he picked him up and took to him to the hospital in his cruiser, ultimately saving his life. In 2018, Lil Wayne had given a shout-out to his "Uncle Bob" while accepting a BET Award.
Who was Robert Hoobler?
According to Nola.com, Hoobler joined the New Orleans Police Department in 1988. Born and raised in Gentilly, he attended John F Kennedy High School. He also joined the Air Force Military Police after graduating from high school in 1974. The same publication states that Hoobler revealed that the nurse, after Wayne was brought in time, told Hoobler, "If y'all had waited for EMS or taken him to Charity, he would have died. You saved that kid's life." About the rapper's success, the officer had said, "I'm proud of what he's done, but I would've done the same for the guy no one ever heard about again."
Hoobler retired in 2012 when he was fired by Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office for shocking a man with a stun gun during an arrest. Reports claimed that the cop tased Leron Anderson in November 2011 after arresting him on Cohen Avenue in Gretna for violating a protection order issued against him. It was claimed that Hoobler was fired when Sheriff Newell Normand saw the video of the scene. Tragically, he suffered a terrible vehicle accident and lost both his legs. After his retirement, he spent his time taking care of his wife Kathleen, who passed away in 2021.
