A Kansas City firefighter-paramedic was tragically killed in the line of duty early Sunday morning after being stabbed by a patient he was transporting in an ambulance.
Graham Hoffman, 29, a dedicated member of the Kansas City Fire Department, was providing emergency care to 38-year-old Shanetta Bossell when the unthinkable happened: she allegedly stabbed him during the ride to the hospital, delivering a fatal wound to his heart.
The incident began around 12:30 a.m., when police responded to reports of a woman — later identified as Bossell — walking alone along the highway. Following standard protocol, officers called for medical assistance and arranged transport to Saint Luke’s Hospital.
But just after 1:25 a.m., while en route, Bossell reportedly pulled out a knife and attacked Hoffman without warning. Despite immediate medical efforts by other responders, Hoffman died from the injuries sustained in the assault.
Bossell was arrested at the scene and is now facing a charge of first-degree murder. She remains in custody on a $1 million bond.
This was not Bossell’s first brush with violence. Court records reveal she had been arrested just five days prior, on April 23, for allegedly biting a police officer during another altercation. She had been charged with assault and resisting arrest, but was released after posting a $10,000 bond — a decision now under intense scrutiny.
The fact that Bossell was free and able to attack again so soon after her previous arrest has outraged first responders and community members alike. Critics are questioning whether more stringent bail decisions or better mental health evaluations could have prevented the tragedy.
“This is why we can’t have nice things. Do not stab the people trying to save your life,” posted journalist Libby Emmons of The Post Millennial on X, echoing the frustration expressed across social media.
The Kansas City Fire Department and the Missouri Division of Fire Safety have expressed profound grief over Hoffman’s death. In an emotional Facebook tribute, the Division called the loss “incomprehensible.”
“Hoffman had committed his life to answering the alarm bell — no matter the emergency, no matter the circumstances,” the post read. “He was a lifesaver.”
The post concluded with a chilling reflection: “His KCFD ambulance was a symbol of help and hope. But early this morning, it became a crime scene — and Hoffman became the victim of an unthinkable act, allegedly murdered by the very person he was trying to help.”
As the investigation continues, the case has ignited deeper conversations about violence against first responders, public safety policies, and the justice system’s handling of potentially dangerous individuals.