Deputy Yates Rodney is now in a specialized Atlanta hospital, starting the next phase of treatment after being critically wounded during a traffic stop earlier this month. In a short video shared by a law-enforcement recovery group, Rodney thanked community members, fellow officers and medical staff for standing by him as he faces what officials say will be a long rehabilitation. Authorities say the June 8 shooting near Mount Olive sparked an hours-long manhunt that ended with two arrests.
What happened during the traffic stop
The shooting unfolded on June 8 after Rodney tried to pull over a blue SUV for a seat-belt violation and the driver fled, according to WTVA. Investigators say the vehicle eventually became stuck near downtown Mount Olive. One of the passengers, who had briefly lain on the ground with his hands up, then stood and opened fire on the deputy while another deputy shot back, authorities report. Rodney was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency surgery.
Brothers arrested after 10-hour search
Tips from residents, door-cam footage and a coordinated multi-agency search led officers to a Mount Olive home, where 18-year-old Cortavious Lawayne Hobbs and 19-year-old Cortavion Dewayne Hobbs were discovered hiding under the house, WLBT reports. The brothers were arrested without incident after roughly 10 hours of searching and are being held while the case moves through the courts.
Serious injuries, possible spinal damage
Officials say a bullet hit the lower part of Rodney’s chest and damaged a lung, and state authorities warned the shot may have caused spinal injury. OFFICER reports that the round "penetrated his spinal cord," while Fox News relayed that a doctor told Rodney he may never walk again. He remains in intensive care and in a medically fragile condition as specialists work to determine the full extent of the damage.
Transferred to Atlanta for specialized care
According to WAPT, Rodney was flown to a specialized hospital in Atlanta for advanced treatment and rehabilitation. The Wounded Blue shared a short video message in which Rodney, speaking from his hospital bed, thanked neighbors, fellow deputies and medical teams for their support as he starts what he calls his road to recovery.
Blood drives and fundraisers organized locally
After Rodney’s surgery, The Blood Center urged eligible donors to roll up their sleeves, saying hospitals used a large amount of blood products during his emergency treatment, WLBT reported. A GoFundMe has been launched to help Rodney and his family, and local agencies have organized a blood drive and other community fundraisers to support both hospital needs and the deputy’s recovery, according to law-enforcement publications such as OFFICER.
Charges and court schedule
The Hobbs brothers have been charged with attempted capital murder and hindering prosecution and were denied bond at an initial court appearance, according to WTVA. Prosecutors and investigators say the case remains open and additional charges could be filed as agencies continue to review evidence.
Related Simpson County case
Media reports note that the arrests came just days after another Hobbs family member was charged in Simpson County in the deaths of an elderly couple, a development that authorities say has complicated a set of interconnected investigations, according to Fox News and other local coverage.
In the video clip shared by the recovery group, Rodney briefly addresses viewers to thank everyone who has sent support and to ask for prayers as he begins what officials describe as a lengthy rehabilitation process, per WAPT. The sheriff and Rodney’s family have asked for privacy while medical teams assess his injuries and determine the next steps in his care.
