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Suspect arrested in Boston Scientific exec’s death

By WTOP Staff

STEVE KARNOWSKI
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man accused of fatally shooting his former boyfriend and business partner in suburban Minneapolis was arrested Thursday after a month on the run, when police found him on foot peering at a drive-thru menu in another suburb, police said.

Lyle “Ty” Hoffman was arrested without incident at an Arby’s restaurant in Shakopee, about 30 miles southwest of the Arden Hills gas station where Kelly Phillips was fatally shot on Aug. 11.

Authorities didn’t immediately know how Hoffman managed to elude police for so long, or whether anyone was helping him, but he was found after officers were summoned to check a report of a suspicious man, Shakopee Police Chief Jeff Tate said.

Hoffman, 44, is charged with intentional second-degree murder in the death of Phillips, 48, an attorney and a vice president for the medical device company Boston Scientific. According to a witness, Phillips was in a BMW that pulled into a gas station about two blocks from his office when the car’s driver, after some yelling between the two men, shot Phillips three times and fled in the car.

Hoffman had been the subject of several massive searches in the Minneapolis area, including two around the Anoka County airport in Blaine, about 10 miles north of Arden Hills, and one around a casino south of Shakopee. He also was suspected of a bank robbery in Blaine on Aug. 30.

Phillips’ father said his family was elated, adding that the arrest was a relief after a month of “up and down, up and down.”

“But we know there’s a lot of things ahead that are going to be difficult. At least we can sleep with some relief tonight,” said James Phillips, who lives in Mason City, Iowa.

Hoffman was expected to make his initial court appearance Friday.

Authorities are still searching for the handgun they believe was used in the killing, Ramsey County Chief Deputy John Kirkwood said. Citing the ongoing investigation, Kirkwood refused to say what Hoffman had told investigators or if he was cooperating. But he said authorities believe Hoffman had remained in the Twin Cities area and may have been using public transportation.

Kirkwood said anyone who helped Hoffman could face charges. He said he did not know whether Hoffman had an attorney.

The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office initially said Hoffman may have been evading capture by using Craigslist and dating apps, such as Grindr, because he had used them in the past. Inspector Rob Allen, who oversees the office’s detectives, said Thursday that they were still investigating whether Hoffman used social media sites to find places to hide.

Tate said an alert citizen spotted a man suspected of being Hoffman in the parking lot at a Shakopee shopping center Thursday morning. The person called police and stayed on the phone with 911 while keeping an eye on Hoffman walking around the area.

“This concerned citizen did everything we asked the public to do,” Tate said. “They observed, they reported, they kept our officers updated on the locations of this individual.”

One of the arresting officers spotted Hoffman while he was reading the menu at an Arby’s drive-thru and went up to talk to him, Tate said. A second officer then arrived. Hoffman acknowledged who he was, said he was not armed and offered no resistance, he said.

Phillips owned Lush nightclub, a bar in Minneapolis that he opened with Hoffman in 2009. While Hoffman worked at the bar, Phillips’ involvement was primarily financial. Friends and family have said the men’s personal and business lives had strained. Hoffman had been fired from the bar, and Phillips evicted him from a residence he owned across from the club.

Phillips, who had been active in the campaign to legalize gay marriage in Minnesota, was due to marry another man on Aug. 30. Instead, family and friends held a private memorial service that day.

A $40,000 reward was being offered in the search for Hoffman.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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