In the late summer of 2014, a life of promise was tragically cut short in a brazen act of violence. Kelly L. Phillips, a 48-year-old White male, was a respected attorney and businessman from Arden Hills, Minnesota. On the morning of August 11, 2014, he was fatally shot at a Holiday gas station in Arden Hills. The man responsible for his death was his former romantic and business partner, Lyle "Ty" Hoffman.
The events leading to the fatal encounter began with a personal and professional
relationship that had soured. Hoffman and Phillips had been together for 15 years and were co-founders of the popular Minneapolis nightclub, Lush Food Bar. After their romantic relationship ended, their business partnership also dissolved, leading to legal disputes. In the months prior to the shooting, Phillips had evicted Hoffman from a residence he owned. On that fateful August morning, Hoffman arranged to meet Phillips under the pretense of needing a ride. An argument ensued in Phillips' car, reportedly over the ownership of the nightclub.
The confrontation escalated at the gas station. A witness reported hearing the two men arguing loudly inside a black BMW. Phillips then exited the vehicle and was shot by the driver. The gunman fired multiple times, with one witness stating that Phillips was on the ground begging for his life before the final, fatal shot was fired to his head. After the shooting, the assailant fled the scene in the BMW, running over Phillips' legs as he drove away. Phillips was rushed to a nearby medical center, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on Lyle "Ty" Hoffman as the prime suspect. A month-long manhunt ensued, with law enforcement agencies searching for him across the state. Hoffman was eventually apprehended on September 11, 2014, after a citizen spotted him near a fast-food restaurant in Shakopee and alerted the authorities. He was arrested without incident.
In January 2015, Lyle "Ty" Hoffman pleaded guilty to second-degree intentional murder. As part of his plea, he admitted to shooting Phillips three times following their heated argument. He was subsequently sentenced to 25 and a half years in prison. The tragic event cut short a life marked by professional success and community involvement. Phillips was a vice president and chief counsel for Boston Scientific and was described by friends and family as a kind and generous person. He was also a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and was engaged to be married just weeks after he was killed.
