KANSAS CITY, MO - Authorities have confirmed that a Kansas City firefighter paramedic was fatally stabbed by a patient whom he was caring for in an ambulance that was on its way to a local hospital.
According to CBS News, 29-year-old Graham Hoffman was transporting 38-year-old Shanetta Bossell following a routine medical call from police on Sunday, April 27th, when he was stabbed in the chest, piercing his heart. Despite lifesaving efforts, Hoffman died from his injuries at North Kansas City Hospital.
Bossell has been charged with murder and armed criminal action. Court documents show that emergency crews received reports of a woman, later identified as Bossell, walking on the shoulder of a state highway around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. Callers had been concerned for her safety. After Bossell was located, police officers requested an EMT for further treatment and she was taken to Saint Luke's Hospital.
While heading to the hospital, around 1:25 a.m., Bossell allegedly stabbed Hoffman with a knife. She was taken into custody and is being held on a $1 million bond. If convicted, she faces up to life in prison. Court documents state that Bossell was arrested on April 23rd on unrelated assault charges after she allegedly bit a Platte City police officer during a separate arrest.
According to the New York Post, she was charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest, but posted her $10,000 bond and was released sometime before Hoffman's murder over the weekend. Earlier in March, she had another run-in with police after rear-ending a car and fleeing the scene, resulting in a citation.
Hoffman had been a member of the Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD) since 2022. KCFD Fire Chief Ross Grundyson said, "Graham was a vibrant individual who loved life and loved serving his community. He was an excellent paramedic. He treated his patients with the highest level of skill and compassion."
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said he was "heartbroken" by Hoffman's death. He said, "Graham was 29-years-old, someone who had an exceptional life ahead of him, and he died doing something that was so impactful and important to all of us, serving the community." According to FOX4, Hoffman usually worked out of KCFD Station #42, but was working an overtime shift on Sunday morning when he was fatally stabbed.
KCFD Chief Grundyson said, in part, "It is with a heavy heart and great sorrow that I announce the death of Firefighter Paramedic Graham Hoffman ... The Kansas City Fire Department grieves with Graham's family, friends, and loved ones. This is a senseless act that has taken a great young man from his family, friends, and coworkers, and deprived our city of a dedicated firefighter, and a leader on and off the job who only wanted to serve and protect those in his community.
The coming days, months, and years will be difficult ones as we prepare to say goodbye to Firefighter Hoffman and process this devastating loss. I would like to thank our KCFD members and the staff at North Kansas City Hospital for their tremendous efforts. Thank you to the Kansas City Police Department for your quick response and apprehension of the suspect."
The Missouri Division of Fire Safety wrote in a Facebook post, "His KCFD ambulance was an essential lifesaving tool. But early this morning, Hoffman's ambulance became a crime scene and Hoffman a victim of an unfathomable crime — allegedly stabbed to death by a patient he was treating. Hoffman had committed his life to answering the alarm bell no matter the emergency, regardless of the circumstances. He was a lifesaver."
According to CBS News, 29-year-old Graham Hoffman was transporting 38-year-old Shanetta Bossell following a routine medical call from police on Sunday, April 27th, when he was stabbed in the chest, piercing his heart. Despite lifesaving efforts, Hoffman died from his injuries at North Kansas City Hospital.
Bossell has been charged with murder and armed criminal action. Court documents show that emergency crews received reports of a woman, later identified as Bossell, walking on the shoulder of a state highway around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. Callers had been concerned for her safety. After Bossell was located, police officers requested an EMT for further treatment and she was taken to Saint Luke's Hospital.
While heading to the hospital, around 1:25 a.m., Bossell allegedly stabbed Hoffman with a knife. She was taken into custody and is being held on a $1 million bond. If convicted, she faces up to life in prison. Court documents state that Bossell was arrested on April 23rd on unrelated assault charges after she allegedly bit a Platte City police officer during a separate arrest.
According to the New York Post, she was charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest, but posted her $10,000 bond and was released sometime before Hoffman's murder over the weekend. Earlier in March, she had another run-in with police after rear-ending a car and fleeing the scene, resulting in a citation.
Hoffman had been a member of the Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD) since 2022. KCFD Fire Chief Ross Grundyson said, "Graham was a vibrant individual who loved life and loved serving his community. He was an excellent paramedic. He treated his patients with the highest level of skill and compassion."
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said he was "heartbroken" by Hoffman's death. He said, "Graham was 29-years-old, someone who had an exceptional life ahead of him, and he died doing something that was so impactful and important to all of us, serving the community." According to FOX4, Hoffman usually worked out of KCFD Station #42, but was working an overtime shift on Sunday morning when he was fatally stabbed.
KCFD Chief Grundyson said, in part, "It is with a heavy heart and great sorrow that I announce the death of Firefighter Paramedic Graham Hoffman ... The Kansas City Fire Department grieves with Graham's family, friends, and loved ones. This is a senseless act that has taken a great young man from his family, friends, and coworkers, and deprived our city of a dedicated firefighter, and a leader on and off the job who only wanted to serve and protect those in his community.
The coming days, months, and years will be difficult ones as we prepare to say goodbye to Firefighter Hoffman and process this devastating loss. I would like to thank our KCFD members and the staff at North Kansas City Hospital for their tremendous efforts. Thank you to the Kansas City Police Department for your quick response and apprehension of the suspect."
The Missouri Division of Fire Safety wrote in a Facebook post, "His KCFD ambulance was an essential lifesaving tool. But early this morning, Hoffman's ambulance became a crime scene and Hoffman a victim of an unfathomable crime — allegedly stabbed to death by a patient he was treating. Hoffman had committed his life to answering the alarm bell no matter the emergency, regardless of the circumstances. He was a lifesaver."
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Comments
2025-04-30T17:15-0400 | Comment by: Dawn
Such a senseless tragedy. That woman should be taken out and shot. She destroyed the life of a man who was seeking only to help others. Far better than she's ever done, no doubt. :-(
2025-04-30T18:53-0400 | Comment by: Philip
Are we still under the illusion that we can coexist with this species?
2025-04-30T19:21-0400 | Comment by: alan
Sickening! What possibly could've been her motive? The EMT was trying to help her!! Well, now, hopefully she'll never be able to hurt anyone else and she'll have a very, long time to think about what she's done. So, maybe EMT's should also carry weapons, because some of their loser patients are dangers to everyone.
2025-04-30T19:21-0400 | Comment by: alan
Sickening! What possibly could've been her motive? The EMT was trying to help her!! Well, now, hopefully she'll never be able to hurt anyone else and she'll have a very, long time to think about what she's done. So, maybe EMT's should also carry weapons, because some of their loser patients are dangers to everyone.
2025-04-30T19:21-0400 | Comment by: alan
Sickening! What possibly could've been her motive? The EMT was trying to help her!! Well, now, hopefully she'll never be able to hurt anyone else and she'll have a very, long time to think about what she's done. So, maybe EMT's should also carry weapons, because some of their loser patients are dangers to everyone.
2025-04-30T19:21-0400 | Comment by: alan
Sickening! What possibly could've been her motive? The EMT was trying to help her!! Well, now, hopefully she'll never be able to hurt anyone else and she'll have a very, long time to think about what she's done. So, maybe EMT's should also carry weapons, because some of their loser patients are dangers to everyone.
2025-04-30T19:21-0400 | Comment by: alan
Sickening! What possibly could've been her motive? The EMT was trying to help her!! Well, now, hopefully she'll never be able to hurt anyone else and she'll have a very, long time to think about what she's done. So, maybe EMT's should also carry weapons, because some of their loser patients are dangers to everyone.
2025-04-30T19:21-0400 | Comment by: alan
Sickening! What possibly could've been her motive? The EMT was trying to help her!! Well, now, hopefully she'll never be able to hurt anyone else and she'll have a very, long time to think about what she's done. So, maybe EMT's should also carry weapons, because some of their loser patients are dangers to everyone.
2025-04-30T19:21-0400 | Comment by: alan
Sickening! What possibly could've been her motive? The EMT was trying to help her!! Well, now, hopefully she'll never be able to hurt anyone else and she'll have a very, long time to think about what she's done. So, maybe EMT's should also carry weapons, because some of their loser patients are dangers to everyone.
2025-04-30T19:21-0400 | Comment by: alan
Sickening! What possibly could've been her motive? The EMT was trying to help her!! Well, now, hopefully she'll never be able to hurt anyone else and she'll have a very, long time to think about what she's done. So, maybe EMT's should also carry weapons, because some of their loser patients are dangers to everyone.
2025-04-30T19:21-0400 | Comment by: alan
Sickening! What possibly could've been her motive? The EMT was trying to help her!! Well, now, hopefully she'll never be able to hurt anyone else and she'll have a very, long time to think about what she's done. So, maybe EMT's should also carry weapons, because some of their loser patients are dangers to everyone.
2025-04-30T19:21-0400 | Comment by: alan
Sickening! What possibly could've been her motive? The EMT was trying to help her!! Well, now, hopefully she'll never be able to hurt anyone else and she'll have a very, long time to think about what she's done. So, maybe EMT's should also carry weapons, because some of their loser patients are dangers to everyone.
2025-05-06T14:41-0400 | Comment by: Laurence
Since Missouri still has the death penalty, that evil woman should be executed. A life for a life.
2025-05-06T14:41-0400 | Comment by: Laurence
Since Missouri still has the death penalty, that evil woman should be executed. A life for a life.