Who was Graham Hoffman? ‘A genuine soul’ and ‘leader on and off the job’

First responding agencies are remembering the life of a paramedic who died Sunday morning after he was fatally stabbed while transporting a patient.

Graham Hoffman, 29, was a paramedic/firefighter for the Kansas City Fire Department.

The Kansas City Police Department stated that just after 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 27, emergency crews were called to the area of 152 Highway and North Oak Trafficway with reports of a woman, later identified as Shanetta Bossell, walking on the highway. Callers had been concerned for her safety.

Responding officers said they located Bossell and ultimately requested EMS for further treatment. EMS began a transport to Saint Luke’s North Hospital, but about 1:25 a.m., she stabbed Hoffman in the ambulance, the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office reported.

The ambulance stopped, and police took Bossell into custody.

Documents: Woman charged with killing Graham Hoffman bit officer, tried to take ambulance

Officials stated that Bossell had stabbed Hoffman in the heart, and he died from his injuries at North Kansas City Hospital. The knife was recovered from the ambulance.

Hoffman was one of his favorite students, saying he was the ideal firefighter and paramedic.

“From his appearance, you would go, this is a man that takes his job very seriously,” Paikowski said. “Incredible to watch, he turned out to be phenomenal, patients loved him, peers loved him, he was just amazing in every way.”

“He never got a complaint in three years; I never got a complaint on that man, ever,” Paikowski said. “All I heard was what a good job he did, and that’s amazing.”

Paikowski says they’re all processing his death differently, holding back anger and frustration.

“He was actually murdered, and that’s what really upsets me,” Paikowski said.

Now they wear a black stripe over their badges for Hoffman, who Paikowski said should still be here, ready to go out on his next call.

“I think everyone is going to miss him just because of his camaraderie, how he was just around the station,” Paikowski said. “He took everything so seriously. He really cared about his peers and his patients. He cared about the department; he cared about everything.”

The Belton Fire Department stated that Hoffman began his firefighting career with the agency, and a statement spoke glowingly of Hoffman’s character.

The Kansas City Fire Department described the fallen paramedic as a “dedicated professional” and someone beloved by his peers.