A public memorial and candlelight service honoring Kelly Phillips will be held at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7pm. Phillips was killed in a shooting on Aug. 11. The suspect, Ty Hoffman, is still at large.
Phillips was the owner of Lush Food Bar, and active in the struggle for LGBT equality in Minnesota.
The search for Hoffman continues more than two weeks after the shooting death of Phillips. Crime Stoppers, the Council on Crime and Justice, and community members have raised a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Hoffman. Anyone with information is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Phillips’ fiance, Nathon Bailey, released a statement on Wednesday calling for the community’s help in capturing Ty Hoffman who authorities believe was behind the shooting, according to Fox 9.
“My name is Nathon Bailey and as difficult and painful as it is for me to be here talking to the public like this, I know it’s a necessity. Kelly Phillips and I were engaged to be married this Saturday. Instead, I’ve lost the love of my life and my best friend. The community is also at a loss, too. We’ve lost a leader, a brother, a son, a co-worker and dear, dear friend to so many. I feel it by the outpouring of support and love from all of my family and friends and even from people I hadn’t met before all of this and for that I am very grateful.
“Although we have a loss, we must not be defeated. Kelly’s friends and family and I are determined to find justice and peace. And with your help, we can and we will achieve this. We need you to be aware and active in the search for Kelly’s killer. Kelly’s friends and I are determined. If you know something, please, I beg of you, please step forward. If you see something, please step forward and contact the authorities right away.
“We need you to not forget how Kelly was taken from us so abruptly. If you loved Kelly or loved what he stood for, we would like to welcome you to join us right here at St. Mark’s Cathedral tomorrow evening, Thursday, at 7 p.m. for a memorial service in his honor. Help us as we grieve the loss of Kelly. Help us as we achieve justice. Help us remember a man who changed my life for the better and changed the world around him for the better.
More than anything I would love it if everybody could be inspired by Kelly, by how Kelly lived his life. Be kind, be gentle, be giving, and care for the person next to you more than you care about yourself. That’s what Kelly did and that’s what we loved and honored about him so very much. Thank you.”
The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office released an updated wanted poster on Tuesday:
[gview file=”http://thecolu.mn/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/FinalWantedPosterHoffmanLyleMarvin2.pdf”]
[…] Arden Hills on Aug. 11. The two were former partners who opened Lush Food Bar in 2009. Last week, family and friends gathered at St. Mark’s Cathedral in downtown Minneapolis to remember Phillips. The community has raised $25,000 for information […]
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