Police Shooting: Department of Justice Investigating Sonya Massey Case, Ex-Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson Charged

CHICAGO (WLS) — The US Department of Justice is investigating the fatal police shooting of a black woman at her home in Illinois in July.

Former Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson fatally shot 36-year-old Sonya Massey. bodycam video showsat her Springfield home in July after Massey called 911 to report a possible intruder.

SEE ALSO | New video shows Sonya Massey with police hours before she was shot dead in her home outside Springfield, Illinois

Grayson was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct in connection with the July 6 shooting.

An investigation by the Illinois State Police found that Grayson was unjustified in his use of deadly force. He was fired from his position with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office on July 17, the same day the charges against him were filed.

Paula Crouch, who became Sangamon County’s first female sheriff in Septemberreleased a statement on Friday saying: “The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office takes seriously its responsibility to maintain the highest standards of service and transparency. The Sheriff’s Office, along with appropriate county agencies, has conducted discussions and pledged full cooperation with the Department of Justice in its review. of the material requested is significant, we understand and respect the need for a thorough analysis, and we will engage professional staff to assist in the collection of the data to ensure accuracy and completeness. We believe that transparency promotes trust, which is why much of the material used specifically requested in relation to the The Tragedy of Sonya Massey is already available online for public access and review. We are committed to meeting the deadlines set forth in the DOJ’s request and look forward to their conclusions and recommendations. This process is an important step in building trust throughout the community and strengthening our confidence in delivering fair and effective services to the residents of Sangamon County.”

Sangamon County Chairman Andy Van Meter also issued a statement saying: “We welcome the Department of Justice review as an opportunity to ensure that our community’s law enforcement agencies meet the highest standards of fairness and accountability. I have full confidence in Sheriff Paula Crouch and her team to approach this process with transparency and dedication. The County Board is fully committed to supporting the Sheriff’s Office in meeting DOJ deadlines and requirements. Whether it means funding or additional staffing, we will ensure they have the necessary tools to provide the requested information thoroughly and efficiently, a critical step in strengthening public trust in the Sheriff’s Office.”

READ MORE | Sonya Massey, mother called several times in the days before her death due to mental health crises

The video in the player above is from an earlier report.