A 22-year old fan has been hospitalized as a result of an incident at the Code Orange show in Salt Lake City, UT this past weekend. Emily Jane Hoffman was kicked in the face by a show-goer wearing steel-toed boots, resulting in a double jaw fracture and a brain injury. The attack has thus far resulted in reconstructive surgery, and a lengthy hospital stay. Code Orange has now asked their fans to help support Hoffman in her recovery, which is expected to take several weeks.
Hoffman has issued a statement about the attack:
I went to the Code Orange show this last weekend at Kilby Court and I left with the worst merch ever. Some guy was there who decided to wear steel toe boots. He round house kicked me in the face.
He hit my jaw so hard that it moved the entire thing to one side breaking it in two places on each side. My right side of my jaw was no longer connected to my skull or muscle, it was still in my face because of my skin.
I know can give TSA hell every time I go to the airport with the two nose rings and 4 metal plates in my jaw.
My jaw has been restructured and my brain has stopped bleeding, I’m feeling better but my face still hurts so much. I stayed in the trauma ICU for 6 days, my jaw is wired shut I can’t speak and I have lost 9 pounds in 7 days because I can’t have anything but liquids.
I had a hard time figuring out what the worst part was about my situation for a bit. Between the medication that is being pumped into me all day everyday. Getting my jaw shattered, having to get reconstructive plates put in, being confined to a bed for the next few weeks. There are many more I could list. I finally figured it out. When you go to a show where there will be moshing and you wear steel toe boots, your intentions are to hurt someone. when you swing kick your feet in your steel boots you’re trying to hurt someone. When you hit someone in the face then you see her unconscious and you run off to not get caught. You’re something else, I really don’t have the words for what you are.
In case you see this, I’m the girl from the show at Kilby court 1/21/17. This is what my face and smile used to look like. This is what you did. Hope you don’t glance past this post like you did with me.
Donations towards Hoffman’s hospital bills are being accepted through GoFundMe. No word as of yet as to the identity of the attacker, or whether charges will be pursued.
