Police Identify Homicide Victim Found Lying In Road, Charge 4 Suspects

GASTONIA, N.C. — Police in Gastonia are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead near Ridgecrest Road Thursday morning.

A call came in around 9:07 a.m. regarding a possible shooting in the area of Ivey Drive near Humphrey Boulevard. Responding officers say they found the body of 30-year-old David Yates II, of Lincolnton, lying in the road when they arrived.

Detectives spoke with neighbors in the area and were able to get a description of the possible suspect vehicle.

Cleveland County Sheriff’s deputies soon spotted the vehicle near Grover with multiple suspects inside. The suspects were detained and later arrested in connection to the homicide.

David Bridges, 24, James Flanagan, 26, both of Kings Mountain, Amanda Hoppel, 25, of Gastonia, and Jordan Gigee, 28, of Blacksburg, SC, have each been charged with 1st Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, and 1st Degree Kidnapping.

Police say each suspect had “varying degrees” of association with each other and Yates.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-861-8000.