Mason Griffith

Mason Griffith was a dedicated public servant who knew from the age of 12 that he wanted to be a police officer. The 34-year-old White male served as a Detective Sergeant with the Hermann Police Department and as the part-time Police Chief for the nearby City of Rosebud, where he lived with his wife, Jennifer, and their two sons. Known by friends and community members as having a "heart of gold," Griffith joined the Bourbon Police Explorers in 2001 and was also a Boy Scout. He was a man who loved the outdoors, enjoying hunting, fishing, and kayaking in his free time.

On the evening of March 12, 2023, Sergeant Griffith and Officer Adam Sullentrup responded to a disturbance call at a Casey’s General Store on Highway 19 in Hermann, Missouri. They arrived just before 9:30 p.m. to take a man into custody for multiple outstanding felony warrants from Franklin and Warren counties. The man, identified as 35-year-old Kenneth Lee Simpson, produced a handgun and opened fire. Surveillance footage later showed that neither officer had drawn their weapon when they were shot. Sergeant Griffith was fatally wounded and died at a local hospital. Officer Sullentrup was struck in the head and suffered critical injuries that required months of specialized rehabilitation for brain and spinal injuries.

After the shooting, Simpson fled on foot and barricaded himself inside a house on Market Street, just across the highway from the convenience store. A massive law enforcement response, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol and SWAT teams, descended on the small town. A standoff ensued for approximately 14 hours as authorities used verbal commands, flash-bang devices, and tear gas to try and force a surrender. On the afternoon of March 13, Simpson emerged from the residence with his hands up and was taken into custody without further incident.

Kenneth Lee Simpson was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault on a special victim, two counts of armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Prosecutors announced their intention to seek the death penalty. To ensure an impartial trial, the case was granted a change of venue from Gasconade County to Franklin County, with a jury selected from Greene County.

Simpson’s capital murder trial began in January 2026. He was convicted by a jury and subsequently sentenced to death for the murder of Sergeant Griffith. Following the conclusion of the trial and sentencing, community members in Hermann began a new chapter of healing. By October 2026, a "Mural of Hope and Healing" was nearing completion near the site of the shooting, honoring Griffith's memory and the service of all first responders.