Kansas City Firefighter Dies After Being Stabbed by Patient

Graham Hoffman - Kansas City Fire Dept.

A Kansas City firefighter-paramedic has died after being stabbed by a patient he was transporting to the hospital early Sunday morning, according to the Kansas City Fire Department (KCFD).

Authorities say that just before 1 am on Sunday, April 27, KCFD crews were dispatched to North Oak Trafficway and Highway 152 for what was described as a routine medical call. The Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) reported that the call originated as a welfare check after a woman was seen walking along the westbound lanes of the highway.

When emergency responders arrived, they placed the woman into an ambulance for transport to a hospital. During the ride, the woman allegedly attacked and stabbed firefighter-paramedic Graham Hoffman in the chest with a sharp object. Hoffman's partner pulled over to assist and attempted to subdue the patient but was also assaulted in the process.

Both firefighters were rushed to the hospital. Hoffman, 29, initially suffered life-threatening injuries, while his partner was reported to have non-life-threatening injuries. Despite medical efforts, city officials confirmed around 3 pm Sunday that Hoffman had died from his injuries. During a press conference later that afternoon, KCFD officials said Hoffman had been stabbed in the heart.

Hoffman had been with KCFD since 2022 and typically served out of Station #42. He was working overtime when the fatal incident occurred.

Shanetta Bossell - Clay County Sheriff’s office photo

The suspect, identified as Shanetta Bossell, is now in custody and faces charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, assault, and resisting arrest. She is being held on a $1 million bond. Records show that Bossell had recently been held at the Clay County Detention Center on April 23 and 24 for assaulting an officer and had been released on bond shortly before the deadly incident.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Student Earns Leadership Opportunity PCEC Essay Contest

Kearney High School junior Alex Walter has been selected to represent Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative (PCEC) at the Cooperative Youth Conference and Leadership Experience (CYCLE) this summer after earning runner-up honors in the cooperative’s annual Youth Tour essay competition.

Walter’s accomplishment comes after submitting an outstanding essay that competed against entries from students throughout the Platte-Clay service area. As a result, Walter has earned an all-expenses-paid trip to Jefferson City from July 15-18 to participate in CYCLE, a highly regarded leadership conference that brings together some of the brightest high school students from across Missouri.

Kearney High School government teacher Zachary Smith, who encouraged Walter to enter the competition, praised his student’s hard work and initiative.

“Alex took on this challenge, and the effort has absolutely paid off,” Smith said. “I am very proud of Alex for taking this opportunity seriously and achieving such a remarkable honor.”

During the three-day leadership experience, Walter will join fellow student leaders to learn about electric cooperatives, explore the workings of Missouri state government, hear from dynamic speakers, and participate in leadership development activities. The program, coordinated by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives (AMEC), is designed to build leadership skills and introduce students to new ideas, cultures and lifelong connections.

In a message to Walter and her family, Amanda McQuerrey, Marketing and Community Relations Coordinator for Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, congratulated her on being selected for the program.

“You will learn more about electric cooperatives, Missouri state government, hear great speakers, have fun, and meet lots of new friends,” McQuerrey said. “Congratulations again, Alex. We are proud to have you represent Platte-Clay Electric at CYCLE!”

As part of the recognition, Walter was invited to the Platte-Clay Electric office to receive a prize and participate in a photo opportunity.

Kearney School District is proud to celebrate the achievements of students like Walter who demonstrate a commitment to leadership, excellence and personal growth. Opportunities like the CYCLE program support the district’s strategic focus on preparing students for success beyond the classroom by providing real-world learning experiences that matter most.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Murder, Mayhem, and Laughs at Kearney High School

Get ready for an evening of laughter, mayhem, and theatrical disaster as Kearney High School Theatre presents The Play That Goes Wrong at the KHS Auditorium.

This hilarious production kicks off even before the curtain rises, as the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society scrambles to prepare their latest show — the 1920s murder mystery Murder at Haversham Manor. With an unfinished set, missing props, and a series of escalating disasters, the cast soldiers on in a performance where everything that can go wrong, does.

From collapsing scenery to disappearing actors — and even a few moving corpses — the chaos builds with each passing scene. As the calamities mount and the acting becomes increasingly absurd, audiences are left wondering: will anyone make it to the final curtain still standing?

Don't miss this side-splitting theatrical experience that's sure to leave you in stitches! Performances of The Play That Goes Wrong are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, May 2; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 3; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 4.

Tickets are available now at https://our.show/the-play-that-goes-wrong.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Smithville Woman Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

A four-month-investigation culminated with the arrest of a Smithville woman yesterday for possession of child sexual abuse material.

Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives served a search warrant yesterday at the residence of 44-year-old Melissa Bottom. She has been charged with two class B felony counts of possession of child pornography. The Court set her bond at $25,000. The investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be warranted as analysis of evidence seized from the home progresses.

Sheriff’s Office investigators received an Internet Crimes Against Children tip in this case in December 2024. They have worked through several legal processes over the last several months to gather evidence in the case, culminating yesterday in Bottom’s arrest and the search warrant of her house in the 14100 block of Lora Street, Smithville.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program. It is a network of 61 coordinated task forces, representing more than 5,400 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, dedicated to investigating, prosecuting and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children.

This case was a result of a tip to the Cyber Tipline, the nation’s centralized reporting system for the online exploitation of children. It is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information about suspected online enticement of children for sexual acts, child sexual molestation, child sexual abuse material, child sex tourism, child sex trafficking or unsolicited obscene materials sent to a child to report that to the Cyber Tipline online or by calling 1-800-THE-LOST. Those tips are routed to local law enforcement like the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for investigation.

KPGZ News – Sarah Boyd contributed to this story.

MoDOT Scheduled Closures on I-35 in Clay County This Week

Drivers traveling along I-35 from Kearney could be impacted by road work over the next week.

Motorists driving in Clay County should prepare for temporary ramp and truck stop closures as the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) conducts pavement repair work from Thursday, April 25, through Wednesday, May 1. All scheduled work is weather dependent.

Traffic Modifications:

Revised Schedule: The southbound I-35 off-ramp to US-69 will be closed Friday, April 25, from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. for maintenance.

Canceled: A previously planned closure of the northbound truck stop between Lightburne Street and 19th Street, originally set for nightly shutdowns from Tuesday, April 29, through Thursday, May 1, has been canceled.

MoDOT urges motorists to reduce speed and stay alert when traveling through work zones. Officials noted that work zones may vary, ranging from moving operations—such as striping, patching, or mowing—to short-term lane closures for repairs or debris removal.

MoDOT Kansas City maintains more than 7,000 miles of state roadway across nine counties. To receive work zone notifications, sign up online or contact MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636).

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.