Suspect charged in murder of Boston Scientific executive

Lyle Marvin Hoffman
Photo of suspect released by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department.
Courtesy Ramsey County Sheriff

Ramsey County authorities believe that someone is helping the suspect in a fatal shooting at an Arden Hills gas station earlier this week to evade police.

The Ramsey County Attorney's Office filed charges Friday against Lyle "Ty" Marvin Hoffman, 44, in the shooting death of attorney Kelly Phillips. Hoffman is charged with second-degree murder and a national warrant has been issued for his arrest.

The Ramsey County Sheriff's office said that they believe that someone has been in contact with or helped Hoffman. Law enforcement officials warned that anyone aiding him or concealing his whereabouts could face up to 20 years in prison. The Ramsey County Attorney's Office said it will press charges against those found to have helped him.

A witness told MPR News that two men were arguing in a car at a Holiday gas station shortly before the shooting. Joshua Polos said he saw a man shoot Phillips twice, and then shot him again as he was lying on the ground begging for his life. The man then got back into the car and drove away. The car was later found abandoned in Blaine.

The court has agreed to seal the charges until Hoffman is in custody, which a statement from the Ramsey County Attorney's Office said was to "protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation."

Phillips was an attorney at Boston Scientific and co-founder, along with Hoffman, of Lush Food Bar in northeast Minneapolis.

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