- "Find Hoffman and put a bullet in his head."
- ―Wilson Fisk to Francis[src]
The Rescue of Carl Hoffman was the successful mission by the Masked Man to rescue Carl Hoffman from the corrupt New York City Police Department officers who had been ordered to kill him for having important information about Wilson Fisk's criminal activities.
Background[]
- "Hoffman never left the city after he murdered his partner in the hospital. I scooped him up, squirreled him away for a rainy day. If I don't check in every twenty-four hours Hoffman gets dropped off to the feds tells them all the shit he's been up to."
- ―Leland Owlsley to Wilson Fisk[src]
When Vladimir Ranskahov was rescued by the Masked Man following Wilson Fisk's attempt to bring down the Russian Mafia, Fisk decided to use the situation to his advantage and incriminate the Masked Man. Bribing an ESU Sniper, Fisk ordered him to open fire at the New York City Police Department officers at the scene, while manipulating the news coverage and making it look like the Masked Man was actually the shooter.[4] Christian Blake was heavily injured and taken to Metro-General Hospital and managed to wake up, although he was still not in a state to talk. Fisk became concerned that after what happened, Blake might speak out about Fisk in retaliation and ordered to deal with him.
Carl Hoffman prepares to kill Christian Blake
As none of Fisk's other subordinates within the police could reach Blake's hospital room, he approached Carl Hoffman, who was Blake's partner and trusted friend. Pressured into complying, Hoffman made his way to Blake's room and prepared to kill him with a lethal injection, but the Masked Man intervened soon after Hoffman had done the deed. The Masked Man managed to get some information from Blake before he died and retreated, while Hoffman told the police that the vigilante was the one who killed Blake, so he would be in the clear.[5] Hoffman reported to James Wesley and kept a low profile for a while, until he was found by Leland Owlsley who wanted to have a leverage on Fisk, in case their partnership would take a sour turn.
Wilson Fisk confronts Leland Owlsley
Owlsley kept Hoffman in one of Silver & Brent's undocumented properties, ordering his men to guard him and bring him to the FBI for testimony unless he periodically checks in with them. Hoffman was hesitant on going against Fisk so blatantly but Owlsley promised him ten million dollars that he would receive after going into witness protection, as Owlsley knew that even though Fisk would already get rid of Hoffman by that time, it would be too late. When Owlsley and Madame Gao's attempt to kill Vanessa Marianna and bring Fisk back on track failed, Fisk found out that Owlsley had been stealing his funds and confronted him. Owlsley admitted that he and Gao wanted to kill Marianna and informed Fisk that they would be parting ways with Owlsley taking a half of Fisk's money, while revealing that he had Hoffman as a leverage. However, it did not work on Fisk who killed Owlsley in a fit of rage and ordered his men within the police to find and kill Hoffman by any means necessary.
Corbin and his team carried out Fisk's order and proceeded to sweep the entire New York City, although Matt Murdock overheard him discussing the search at 15th Precinct Police Station. Recalling his previous encounter with Corbin, Murdock realized that he was working for Fisk and was looking for Hoffman who was capable to expose Fisk's entire criminal enterprise. Together with Foggy Nelson and Karen Page, Murdock looked through Landman and Zack documents that they received from Marci Stahl and checked Silver & Brent's property records to get a lead on when Owlsley could have hid Hoffman. Page looked through the a rundown of the company's real estate holdings and found a property in Hell's Kitchen that was not declared in the records, so Murdock went there to investigate.[6]
Rescue[]
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Masked Man tells Carl Hoffman to testify
- "He owns the cops. I'll be dead before I can testify..."
"Not all of them. Turn yourself in to Brett Mahoney, you can trust him. And he knows a couple of lawyers that can't be bought. They can help you." - ―Carl Hoffman and Masked Man[src]
Noticing that Leland Owlsley was late to check in with them, his men considered that it was time to take Carl Hoffman to the FBI, so he could give a testimony against Wilson Fisk. However, Corbin and a group of corrupt New York City Police Department officers stormed the building and gunned down everyone except Hoffman, as Fisk ordered to leave no survivors. Corbin then briefly taunted Hoffman and prepared to kill him off as well, however, the Masked Man intervened just in time and managed to bring down Corbin and other officers before they pulled the trigger. Masked Man then turned to Hoffman and told him that he still had a chance to make things right by going against Fisk and speaking out about all the crimes he committed.
Hoffman was uncertain, since Fisk had half of the police department in his pocket, so even if he decides to do anything, Fisk would have him dead before he could testify. Masked Man then told Hoffman that he needed to go to 15th Precinct Police Station and surrender to Brett Mahoney, who was one of the few police officers who could be trusted. Mahoney would bring Hoffman to the FBI for a testimony and bring in Nelson and Murdock who would represent Hoffman and help him out. Hoffman thanked the vigilante and stood up, but Masked Man then punched him and left him with a threat, that if Hoffman goes anywhere other than the precinct, he would make sure that Hoffman regrets being saved.[6]
Aftermath[]
Carl Hoffman to testifies against Wilson Fisk
- "As we stated on the phone, our client is willing to be placed in protective custody and waive all considerations for immunity."
"In exchange for what?"
"Nothing. Detective Hoffman regrets his involvement in Wilson Fisk's criminal enterprise and seeks only to unburden himself in the eyes of God and the state of New York." - ―Foggy Nelson, FBI Agent, and Matt Murdock[src]
Taking the Masked Man's words seriously, Carl Hoffman arrived at 15th Precinct Police Station and approached Brett Mahoney, telling him that he needed to make a statement. Mahoney contacted the FBI and set up an official testimony at the precinct and also reached out to Nelson and Murdock, having them represent Hoffman. Foggy Nelson and Matt Murdock spoke to the FBI agents and informed them that Hoffman would be testifying against Wilson Fisk and that he was willing to waive all considerations for immunity, requesting only witness protection. Hoffman then officially stated on record that he and Christian Blake were taking bribes from Fisk, giving the FBI all the details and names of Fisk's known associates.
Wilson Fisk gets arrested by the FBI
With Hoffman's testimony as a undeniable proof of Fisk being guilty of racketeering and murder, the FBI conducted a series of mass arrests around New York City, involving the likes of Corbin, Turk Barrett, Parish Landman, M. Caldwell, and Randolph Cherryh, along with other Fisk's associates that Hoffman mentioned. Eventually, they stormed Fisk's penthouse and apprehended the man himself, separating him from Vanessa Marianna and taking him into their custody. However, Fisk had a contingency plan in case of his arrest and had a group of mercenaries he hired to attack the convoy transporting him, killing several police officers and FBI agents, before liberating Fisk.
Fisk then attempted to escape from New York with Marianna and managed to evade the authorities chasing after him, however, he was confronted by Daredevil who prevented Fisk's escape. Daredevil and Fisk engaged in a brutal fight, in which Daredevil managed to bring Fisk down and left him to be arrested by Mahoney and taken to Rikers Island where he would await trial.[6] Fisk hired Donovan and Partners to appeal his arrest in court, however, Benjamin Donovan claimed that Hoffman's testimony and Nelson and Murdock's work provided the prosecution with ironclad evidence against him, advising Fisk to keep a low profile so they could have a chance of early release.[7]