Lil Wayne Pain: Rapper Mourns After Savior 'Uncle Bob' Died

Lil Wayne expressed his heartbreak after the death of Robert Hoobler, the ex-police officer who saved his life during a suicide attempt years ago.

Hoobler, who he calls "Uncle Bob," was found dead at his Old Jefferson home on July 22. He was a former New Orleans police officer who saved the rapper's life in 1994 when he shot himself in the chest while he was home alone.

Lil Wayne was only 12 years old at that time.

The local paper, NOLA, said that the parish's coroner, Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich confirmed the ex-cop's passing.

However, it did not reveal Robert Hoobler's cause of death, but it noted that he had been dealing with health issues after having his legs amputated following a car crash.

His grandson, Daniel Nelson, disclosed that the retired detective also suffered from diabetes.

After the news broke, the "6 Foot 7 Foot" hitmaker took to Instagram and honored the man who saved his life.

"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," he wrote.

Lil Wayne's Suicide Attempt

In an interview with Billboard last year, Lil Wayne opened up about the mental health issues he went through and suicidal thoughts he dealt with as a child.

He even rapped about the incident in his 2015 song, "London Roads" and in his guest verse on Solange's "Mad."

Meanwhile, Hoobler also opened up about it in a 2009 article in NOLA. Per the late officer, he arrived at the home after hearing a call while he was off-duty. He reportedly noticed a faint voice yelling "Help me! I've been shot."

He spoke to Lil Wayne while contacting the emergency medical services, telling him to stay awake. Unfortunately, no ambulances were available at that time. With that, a captain told him to take him to the hospital instead.

Hoobler held the young Wayne in his lap until they arrived at a local hospital in Jefferson Parish. He also assured him he was going to be fine.

A nurse, who was present at the hospital, said that the rapper would have died if they had waited for fo an ambulance.

Before his death, Hoobler worked as an officer for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department. However, he was fired for tasing and using racial slurs against a Black man he arrested.

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Lil Wayne