By Robert A. Cronkleton and Anna Spoerre
The Kansas City Star
HERMAN, Mo. — A police officer was killed and another seriously injured in a shooting Sunday night in eastern Missouri, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith died from injuries sustained in the shooting that occurred about 9:20 p.m. Sunday at a Casey’s gas station at 811 Market Street in Hermann, Missouri, which is along the Missouri River, between Columbia and St. Louis.
The other officer remains in serious, but stable condition at a hospital, the highway patrol said. A manhunt was underway for the suspect who was identified as Kenneth Lee Simpson, 35
The highway patrol issued a blue alert, which signals when an officer has been seriously wounded or killed in the line of duty.
At the request of the Hermann PD, Troop F DDCC has been requested to investigate the shooting of two Hermann officers this evening. Troop F will also handle all media inquiries. This is an active investigation and no other information will be released at this time. pic.twitter.com/ZxNtRHgn8j
— MSHP Troop F (@MSHPTrooperF) March 13, 2023
At the time of the alert, the highway patrol said Simpson was either on foot or in a 2014 black Jeep Wrangler with Missouri license plate RF5A0P.
He was described as 5-feet-10-inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds. He has red hair and hazel eyes. He was wearing a black baseball hat, black long sleeve shirt, black or dark pants and tan boots. Authorities believed he was armed.
©2023 The Kansas City Star.
Visit kansascity.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
