KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City, Missouri, firefighter/paramedic died Sunday after being stabbed in the chest by a woman his crew was taking to a hospital.
The Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department news release states that at approximately 1 a.m., firefighter paramedic Graham Hoffman was critically injured while transporting a patient to Saint Luke’s Hospital on Barry Road.
During transport, the patient stabbed Hoffman, piercing his heart, according to KCFD Chief Ross Grundyson.
Hoffman's co-workers immediately began measures to save his life, and those continued when the ambulance reached North Kansas City Hospital.
He was placed in the intensive care unit, where he died.
"For a violent criminal incident to be the cause of death for a firefighter is rare in this country," said Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas at the afternoon news conference at the hospital. "He was trained to help, and he was doing exactly what he was trained to do."
Hoffman, 29, served with the Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department for about three years.
Before that, he also worked for the Belton Fire Department.
"He was a vibrant individual who loved serving the public," Grundyson said.
A fire department spokesperson said Hoffman was not married but had a girlfriend. He did not have children.
Family and friends told Grundyson Sunday how much Hoffman loved his job.
The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is investigating Hoffman's death.
The woman who police say stabbed Hoffman was arrested and faces several charges in Clay County Court.
Shanetta Bossell, 39, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, third-degree assault and resisting arrest.
Hoffman's body was taken from the hospital to the Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office.
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