COMING UP. NOW BACK OVER TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. DIRK. THANK YOU. THE MAN WHO MURDERED A SACRAMENTO FOOTBALL COACH WILL SPEND MORE THAN TWO DECADES BEHIND BARS. IN JULY OF 2022, 30 YEAR OLD TAJ MICHAEL SHOT AND KILLED 31 YEAR OLD GREG NAJEE GRIMES OUTSIDE OF A CLUB IN SACRAMENTO. GRIMES WAS A FOOTBALL COACH AND A TEACHER AT INDERKUM HIGH SCHOOL. HE GRADUATED FROM THE SCHOOL IN 2008, AND HE WAS THE FIRST STUDENT ATHLETE FROM THAT CAMPUS TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP, GOING ON TO PLAY AT BOISE STATE. MICHAEL HAD BEEN ON THE RUN FOR 19 MONTHS AFTER THE MURDER. HE WAS ARRESTED LAST YEAR AFTER HE WAS FEATURED ON AMERICA’S MOST WANTED. TODAY, A JUDGE SENTENCED HIM TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON. IT’S ABOUT VALUING LIFE. IT’S ABOUT PURPOSE. IT’S ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT OUR SON STOOD FOR. AND GREGORY AND I ARE REALLY ACTUALLY STRIVING TO MAKE OUR SON SON STRONG, OR MAKE OUR SON PROUD OF US. AND SACRAMENTO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER LISA KAPLAN WAS ALSO THERE. TODAY, SHE HAS KNOWN THE GRIMES FAMILY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. SHE SAID THAT TODAY BRINGS SOME PEACE A
Man sentenced for 2022 murder of beloved Sacramento football coach
Updated: 9:55 PM PDT Aug 8, 2025
The man convicted of shooting and killing a Sacramento football coach was sentenced on Friday and will spend decades behind bars.In July 2022, 31-year-old Gregory Najee Grimes, known as Najee, was shot near a nightclub at 15th and L streets in downtown Sacramento. Najee died from his injuries and four others were hurt.His death gained national attention after the Sacramento Police Department partnered with the show “America’s Most Wanted.”His killer, Tahje Michael, was eventually found and arrested in North Carolina in February 2024.On June 30 of this year, Michael pleaded no contest to the crimes against him, including murder, four counts of felonious assault and possessing a gun illegally.Michael was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.Najee coached at Inderkum High School, where he also played in his youth before graduating in 2008 and going on to play at Boise State. But beyond his career in football, he was a role model, and his family shared special memories showing he had a loving and compassionate character, and was a source of positivity for those who knew him. His mother, Deborah Grimes, previously told KCRA 3 how Najee had a floral subscription so he could send them to her randomly, and he would call her just to say ‘I love you.’His family has carried on that legacy of love, hosting events aimed at uplifting the community. “We have a foundation that we established one month after losing Najee. Through that foundation, on a regular, daily, continual basis, we find different creative ways to have impact in our community,” said Deborah Grimes on Friday. “It’s about valuing life. It’s about purpose. It’s about all the things that our son stood for.”Following Friday’s sentencing, Najee’s friends and family said a few words to reflect on their loved one’s life and mark a new path forward. “Today, the Grimes family, his friends, family can start to heal from this terrible tragedy,” said Skyler Jackson, who was there to support the family. Sacramento city councilmember Lisa Kaplan has known the Grimes family for years and also attended the hearing. “All too often, criminals don’t face the consequences. Murderers don’t face the consequences. And so, today is a little bit of peace and hope,” Kaplan said. Najee also left behind a young son. “His eighth birthday was yesterday,” Deborah Grimes said. “It was so horrible that his daddy wasn’t there to celebrate that with him.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The man convicted of shooting and killing a Sacramento football coach was sentenced on Friday and will spend decades behind bars.
In July 2022, 31-year-old Gregory Najee Grimes, known as Najee, was shot near a nightclub at 15th and L streets in downtown Sacramento. Najee died from his injuries and four others were hurt.
His death gained national attention after the Sacramento Police Department partnered with the show “America’s Most Wanted.”
His killer, Tahje Michael, was eventually found and arrested in North Carolina in February 2024.
On June 30 of this year, Michael pleaded no contest to the crimes against him, including murder, four counts of felonious assault and possessing a gun illegally.
Michael was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
Najee coached at Inderkum High School, where he also played in his youth before graduating in 2008 and going on to play at Boise State.
But beyond his career in football, he was a role model, and his family shared special memories showing he had a loving and compassionate character, and was a source of positivity for those who knew him. His mother, Deborah Grimes, previously told KCRA 3 how Najee had a floral subscription so he could send them to her randomly, and he would call her just to say ‘I love you.’
His family has carried on that legacy of love, hosting events aimed at uplifting the community.
“We have a foundation that we established one month after losing Najee. Through that foundation, on a regular, daily, continual basis, we find different creative ways to have impact in our community,” said Deborah Grimes on Friday. “It’s about valuing life. It’s about purpose. It’s about all the things that our son stood for.”
Following Friday’s sentencing, Najee’s friends and family said a few words to reflect on their loved one’s life and mark a new path forward.
“Today, the Grimes family, his friends, family can start to heal from this terrible tragedy,” said Skyler Jackson, who was there to support the family.
Sacramento city councilmember Lisa Kaplan has known the Grimes family for years and also attended the hearing.
“All too often, criminals don’t face the consequences. Murderers don’t face the consequences. And so, today is a little bit of peace and hope,” Kaplan said.
Najee also left behind a young son.
“His eighth birthday was yesterday,” Deborah Grimes said. “It was so horrible that his daddy wasn’t there to celebrate that with him.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel