KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic, 29-year-old Graham Hoffman, critically injured in a stabbing while transporting a patient to the hospital on Sunday died, according to Fire Chief Ross Grundyson.
The suspect accused in the stabbing identified as 38-year-old Shanetta Bossell of Kansas City has been charged with murder in the first degree and armed criminal action, according to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office.
Just after 12:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a check the welfare call at 152 Highway and North Oak Trafficway involving a woman, later identified as Bossell, walking on the highway.
Callers were concerned for her safety and called police, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. Responding officers located Bossell on the side of the highway there. Ultimately, they requested EMS to respond for further treatment.
EMS began to transport Bossell to the hospital for further treatment. While en-route to the hospital in the ambulance, at approximately 1:25a.m., she produced an edged weapon and stabbed the KCFD Firefighter/Paramedic Graham Hoffman causing significant injuries.
The ambulance driver then stopped the ambulance at 152 highway and Platte Purchase and signaled to a KCPD police officer that had been following the ambulance for help. That KCPD officer took Bossell into custody at that location. Additional EMS crews responded and transported Hoffman to the hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries.
Just after 2p.m. Sunday, police were notified that Hoffman had died.
"Hoffman was a member of the Kansas City Fire Department for three years. He was a vibrant individual who loved life and loved serving his community. He was an excellent paramedic who treated his patients with the highest level of skill and compassion," said Fire Chief Ross Grundyson in a media release.
"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 toserve and protect those in his community."