Authorities are continuing the search for Ty Hoffman who is the main suspect in the murder of LGBT community leader and Lush Food Bar owner Kelly Phillips.
At 2:01pm on Monday afternoon, Blaine police responded to a bank robbery at TCF Bank in Blaine. Police reviewed security camera footage and believe the man who robbed the bank is Ty Hoffman.
At 5am on Tuesday, police responded to a possible sighting of Hoffman at the Anoka County Airport. The search for him continued through Tuesday afternoon.
Blaine police released this statement:
On September 2, 2014 at approximately 0500 hours there was a possible sighting of Lyle
Marvin “Ty” Hoffman in the area of the Anoka County Airport. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office and Blaine Police Department are continuing the investigation and searching the area with multiple agencies and SWAT teams from the metro area. Hoffman may still be in the area, is considered armed and dangerous, and should not be approached. If anyone has information on the whereabouts of Lyle Marvin “Ty” Hoffman, or sees any suspicious activity in the area of the Anoka County Airport, they should call 9-1-1. Further information will be provided when available.
The search was concentrated around a wooded area new the airport
This appears to be the area SWAT is concentrating in search for Ty Hoffman @ Blaine airport. http://t.co/j5UH0FouDN
— Guy Still (@mplstvguy) September 2, 2014
The case has drawn the attention of numerous law enforcement agencies including the Blaine Police Department, Anoka County Sheriff’s Office/Crime Scene Unit, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, the BCA, and the FBI.
Hoffman is accused of shooting Phillips at a gas station in 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 leading to the capture of Hoffman. To share any information or report a tip anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.