Yesterday, March 12, 2024, marked one year since the tragic shooting that claimed the life of Detective Sergeant Mason Griffith and critically wounded Hermann patrolman Adam Sullentrup.

A memorial vigil service was held Tuesday evening at the Hermann riverfront. 

“We’re thankful to the community for their support,” said Hermann Chief of Police Marlon Walker, “and we want them to know that evil did not prevail that day. We pray for Adam and Michelle during (Adam’s) recovery, and we continue to remember and honor Mason every day as we do our jobs.”

Griffith and Sullentrup encountered Kenneth Lee Simpson, who was wanted for six active felony warrants from Warren County, when they responded to a disturbance at the Casey’s gas station in Hermann. The officers asked Simpson for identification, which Simpson claimed not to have. After several attempts to mislead officers about his identity, Simpson reportedly became agitated and started pacing.

According to the report filed by Trooper Austin B. Kings from the Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control, as the application for felony charges, “Sgt. Griffith took out his handcuffs and told Simpson he was being placed under arrest. Simpson started backing away from the officers, as they approached to make the arrest. Simpson turned away from the officers, and with his right hand pulled a pistol from his right side. Simpson immediately pointed the weapon at the officers, and began shooting. Officer Sullentrup and Sgt. Griffith were both struck by gunfire.”

Kings’ statement noted, based on video footage of the incident, that neither Griffith nor Sullentrup had their weapons out during the altercation. As Simpson continued shooting at police, Griffith drew his weapon and returned fire. Simpson exited through the store’s front door and fled to a nearby residence, where he was later captured.

During an in-person interview at the Crawford County Jail in Steelville, Simpson told Kings he realized Griffith and Sullentrup planned to arrest him for active warrants and he “believed he was going to die, as he planned to commit ‘suicide by cop.’”

Simpson is represented by a public defender. He currently faces nine felony charges, including first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled subsstance, and resisting arrest for a felony.

Simpson’s jury trial is scheduled to begin on Feb. 5, 2026, which was the first three-week opening in the schedule of 20th Circuit Presiding Judge Craig Hellmann, however a hearing has been scheduled for April 2, 2024, to hear the defendant’s motion to proceed ex-parte under Ake v. Oklahoma. That generally indicates that the defense intends to ask the state to provide a mental health expert to ‘assist in the evaluation, preparation, and presentation of the defense.’

Detective Sgt. Griffith is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and two sons.

“This past year has went by so fast but time still stands still for me,” Jennifer, said. “In October we started The Chief Mason Griffith Foundation. Our mission is to assist past, present, and future first responders, rather it be a major life-changing event like a line of duty death, or something smaller like an illness. We are also offering scholarships to Gasconade and Franklin County schools. We recently have assisted three first responder families. We have several events coming up to raise funds for scholarships and assisting families. March 23 is a cornhole event at the Rosebud RV park, March 30th is a hike on the Katie Trail north of Hermann, and June 1st will be our Memorial UTV ride starting and ending at the Gerald City Park.”

In addition to his family’s staggering loss, Gasconade County Prosecuting Attorney Mary E. Weston was forced to dismiss multiple cases where Griffith would have been the key witness for the prosecution.

Sullentrup, who was shot in the head, was treated at Craig Hospital in Colorado before being released in November of 2023.  He continues to recover with the support of his wife Michelle.