How you can help after death of Kansas City paramedic Graham Hoffman
If you want to help the family of Graham Hoffman, the Kansas City firefighter and paramedic killed this weekend, multiple organizations have set up fundraisers.
Early Sunday morning, Hoffman was stabbed in the heart by a patient while riding in the back of an ambulance in Kansas City’s Northland, according to court documents.
Shanetta Bossell pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest in the death of the 29-year-old.
Kansas City Fire Chief Ross Grundyson remembered Hoffman’s courage, compassion and commitment to the community, in a statement.
“Graham 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.”
Hoffman had worked at KCFD for three years.
“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 to serve and protect those in his community,” Grundyson said.
Currently, the state of Missouri gives a one-time payment of $25,000 to families of first responders killed in action, but the program could expire in June.
Donate money
Kansas Citians can give money to Hoffman’s family through the Yard Foundation, Chicago nonprofit that raises money for injured and killed firefighters and their families. According to the Yard Foundation website, the organization aims to replace GoFundMe in the firefighting sphere and gives an additional 3% of the money raised to the families.
As of midday Tuesday, the nonprofit had received a total of $18,000 from 305 donors, which will go to Hoffman’s family.
Go to the Yard Foundation’s website to find the donation page for the KCFD firefighter.
Fire station shirt fundraiser
A Kansas City print shop owned by a former firefighter is selling T-shirts, which have already raised $60,000 for Hoffman’s family, according to KCFD station 10 Facebook page.
E2 Embroidery and Screen Printing has already received thousands of orders for clothes with the logo of south Kansas City’s KCFD Station 42, where Hoffman was assigned.
The station said Tuesday afternoon that $100,000 had been raised, including a large purchase by the Kansas City Royals for their team and staff.
The design is available on a T-shirt for $15 or a sweatshirt for $22. Kids’ sizes are available as well.
Customers have until May 9 to order the items, and they can either have their shirt shipped to them or pick it up at E2 Embroidery and Screen Printing at 1451 N. Topping Ave. in Kansas City.
The Star’s Noelle Alviz-Gransee and Robert A. Cronkleton contributed to this report.
This story was originally published April 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM.
