- "Find Hoffman and put a bullet in his head."
- ―Wilson Fisk to Francis[src]
The Rescue of Carl Hoffman was an unsuccessful mission by Corbin and corrupt New York City Police Department officers to find and kill Carl Hoffman. Although they were able to find Hoffman, Masked Man intervened to rescue him and got him to testify against Wilson Fisk.
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 Masked Man following Wilson Fisk's attempt to bring down the Russian Mafia, Fisk decided to use the situation to his advantage and incriminate 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 Masked Man was actually the shooter.[4]
Carl Hoffman prepares to kill Christian Blake
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. 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 Masked Man intervened soon after Hoffman had done the deed.
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. Owlsley kept Hoffman at one of Silver & Brent's properties under guard, promising Hoffman $10 million to testify against Fisk if Owlsley stops checking in.
Wilson Fisk confronts Leland Owlsley
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 criminal enterprise. Together with Foggy Nelson and Karen Page, Murdock looked through Landman and Zack documents that they received from Marci Stahl and Page found an undocumented Silver & Brent property, so Murdock went there to investigate.[3]
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]
As Leland Owlsley did not check in with them in time, Owlsley's men decided that it was time to take Carl Hoffman to the FBI. As they were preparing to move out and get Hoffman to testify, Corbin and several corrupt New York City Police Department broke in and killed everyone besides Hoffman. Corbin briefly taunted Hoffman, prearing to kill him as well, but Masked Man intervened in time to bring Corbin and other officers down before they could pull the trigger. Masked Man then turned to Hoffman and said that he still had a chance to make things right by testifying against Wilson Fisk.
Hoffman was uncertain, since Fisk had half of the NYPD on his payroll, so even if he decides to do anything, Fisk would have him dead before he could testify. Masked Man told Hoffman to turn himself in to Brett Mahoney at the 15th Precinct Police Station, who was one of the few police officers who could be trusted. Mahoney would bring Hoffman to the FBI for a testimony and get Nelson and Murdock to represent Hoffman as his counsels. Hoffman thanked the vigilante and stood up, but Masked Man punched him and left him with a threat, that if Hoffman tries to escape, Masked Man would make sure that Hoffman would regret that decision.[3]
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]
Carl Hoffman complied and arrived at 15th Precinct Police Station, where he approached Brett Mahoney and told him that he had a statement to make. Mahoney contacted the FBI and set up an official testimony, and also reached out to Nelson and Murdock to represent him. 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.
Wilson Fisk gets arrested by the FBI
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. With Hoffman's testimony as an undeniable proof of Fisk being a criminal, the FBI conducted a series of 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 apprehended Fisk at his penthouse, 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 to attack the convoy transporting him, killing several NYPD officers and FBI agents, before liberating Fisk. Fisk 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. Engaging in a brutal fight, Daredevil managed to bring Fisk down and left him to be arrested by Mahoney and taken to Rikers Island.[3] Awaiting trial, Fisk hired Donovan and Partners to appeal his conviction, but Hoffman's testimony allowed the prosecution to build too strong of a case against him.[6]
