A woman already accused of previously assaulting a police officer is now charged with murder after a Kansas City firefighter/paramedic was stabbed to death by a patient he was helping transport early Sunday.
Shanetta Bossell, 39, is charged in the 7th Judicial Circuit Court of Clay County in Missouri with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, third-degree assault and resisting arrest.
She is charged with the bizarre murder of Kansas City Fire Department paramedic Graham Hoffman, 29.
Authorities had been called for a welfare check at Missouri Highway 152 near North Oak Trafficway when they found Bossell walking on the shoulder. She was then to be transported by ambulance to a hospital for a finger cut that was bleeding heavily.
Shanetta Bossell
Hoffman was assisting with Bossell’s care in an ambulance shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday when she began fighting and allegedly stabbed him in the chest, according to court documents. Police, who had intended to follow the ambulance, took Bossell into custody, but not before she’d allegedly struggled with officers and bit one hard on the arm.
Bossell also had been arrested April 23 after allegedly severely biting another off-duty officer on the arm, after he’d approached her about pulling on vehicle door handles outside his home.
“This was all preventable,” KCMO radio talk show host Pete Mundo posted on X, noting the woman’s previous arrest and being allowed back on the streets.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas appears to agree with Mundo.
“Like many,” he wrote in a statement Sunday, “I share concern that the defendant had within the past week been arrested and charged by prosecutors with felony assault on a law enforcement officer only to, based upon the allegations, return as a serious threat to the public and first responders only days later. I believe in our justice system and will await further information about all that led to this heartbreaking incident and all that could have been done to avoid it.
“In the meantime, I will continue discussion with KCFD, KCPD, and all of our first responders and emergency personnel to ensure we have reviewed our policies and provided every available tool to keep them safe as they protect all in our community.”
