Covington officer shot in face responding to call released from hospital

ATLANTA - The Covington police officer who was shot in the face while responding to a disturbance call on Tuesday at a motel off Interstate 20 has been released from the hospital.

Officer Rashad Rivers was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and underwent surgery earlier this week. The bullet struck the officer near his eye and became lodged in his jaw. He had surgery earlier this week to remove it.

"He’s definitely a fighter," said Covington Police Lt. Daniel Digby.

Lt. Digby says anytime someone is shot in the head or face, it is life-threatening.

"He did get shot on the head in the right side of his face," Lt. Digby said.

The lieutenant says he is thankful for all the community support and prayers.

Officer Rivers was wheeled out of the hospital, but once outside, he got up and walked down the stairs unassisted to an awaiting vehicle.

A coterie of law enforcement officers escorted Officer Rivers to his him from Grady Memorial Hospital.

Rivers joined the department in September 2022 after graduating the police academy and earning the Leadership Award for his class. He was sworn in on Jan. 3, 2023.

A second officer shot and killed the man who reportedly shot Officer Rivers. That man has been identified as 23-year-old Treyvorius Stodghill of Covington.