Convicted murderer in Hermann officer’s shooting death to be sentenced in June

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was found guilty last month of murdering a Hermann police officer in 2023 will be sentenced in June.

Kenneth Simpson, of Steelville, was found guilty on Jan. 24 of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, two counts of illegal gun possession, one count of illegally possessing a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. 

A jury on Friday recommended that Simpson should face the death penalty.

Court filings made public on Monday show Simpson will be sentenced at 1 p.m. Friday, June 12 at the Franklin County Courthouse.

Simpson was accused of shooting and killing Sgt. Mason Griffith and wounding Officer Adam Sullentrup in March 2023. The trial started Jan. 20 in Franklin County after it was moved from Gasconade County in 2023, where the shooting happened.

Simpson shot both men within 15 seconds on March 12, 2023, at a Casey’s convenience store in Hermann.

Police caught Simpson following a more than 12-hour standoff. The state of Missouri, on Sept. 14, 2023, filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Simpson.