A grand jury in Illinois charged a sheriff’s deputy with murder on Wednesday in the fatal shooting of a 36-year-old woman who called the police over concerns about a prowler.
Sean Grayson, a sheriff’s deputy with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in Springfield, Ill., faces three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct in the death of the woman, Sonya Massey, according to a news release from the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The case was first evaluated under Illinois law for the use of deadly force, the office said. “A review of the Illinois State Police investigation, including the body-worn camera footage, does not support a finding that Deputy Sean Grayson was justified in his use of deadly force,” John Milhiser, the Sangamon County state’s attorney, said in the statement.
Mr. Grayson has since been fired from the sheriff’s office, Sheriff Jack Campbell said in a statement posted to the agency’s Facebook page.
“It is clear that the deputy did not act as trained or in accordance with our standards,” Sheriff Campbell said.
The shooting that led to the charges occurred on July 6, when Mr. Grayson and another deputy were sent to Ms. Massey’s home in Springfield at around 12:50 a.m., after Ms. Massey called 911 to report “a prowler,” according to officials’ statements.
The deputies made contact with Ms. Massey in her home, Mr. Milhiser said.
“During the interaction inside the home of Sonya Massey, Deputy Grayson discharged his firearm, striking Ms. Massey and killing her,” Mr. Milhiser said.
Ms. Massey was pronounced dead at an area hospital, said the Illinois State Police, which conducted the investigation.
No deputies were injured, and it remained unclear on Wednesday evening what led up to the shooting. According to the sheriff’s office, the deputies reported that “shots had been fired” at 1:21 a.m.
Body camera footage will be released at 10 a.m. Monday, Mr. Milhiser said. Ms. Massey’s family viewed the footage on Wednesday at the state’s attorney’s office. Mr. Milhiser declined to comment beyond his public statement Wednesday evening.
Ben Crump, the lawyer representing the family of Ms. Massey, said in a statement on Wednesday that the charges were a “step toward justice” for Ms. Massey’s family, especially her children.
“Today marks an important milestone in the pursuit of justice for Sonya Massey’s family,” Mr. Crump said in the statement. “While nothing can undo the heinous actions of this officer, we hope the scales of justice will continue to hold him accountable and we will demand transparency at every step.”
The case drew public outcry and protests, with demonstrators demanding justice for Ms. Massey and transparency into the investigation. Some criticized I.S.P.’s decision not to release the body camera footage or the names of the deputies as the investigation unfolded.
“I have received several calls and texts about our lack of public statement regarding the recent Deputy-involved shooting,” Sheriff Campbell said in a Facebook post on July 10, adding that it was “imperative that SCSO protect the integrity of the investigation by waiting for the determination from ISP.”
In the statement released on Wednesday after the investigation was completed, Sheriff Campbell said that Mr. Grayson’s actions “do not reflect the values and training of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office or law enforcement as a whole.”
“Good law enforcement officers stand with our community in condemning actions that undermine the trust and safety we strive to uphold,” he said. “In times like these, it is crucial for leadership across all sides and spectrums to come together to heal our community.”
Mr. Grayson is in custody and will be arraigned on Thursday, according to the state’s attorney’s office. It was unclear if he had an attorney.
Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois said he was grateful that prosecutors charged Mr. Grayson.
“My heart breaks for Sonya’s children, for her family and friends and for all who knew and loved her, and I am enraged that another innocent Black woman had her life taken from her at the hands of a police officer,” he said in a statement.
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