An Illinois sheriff’s deputy was charged with murder Wednesday after he fatally shot a woman who’d called 911 to report a possible prowler at her home.
Sean Grayson faces three counts of murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct in the fatal shooting of 36-year-old Sonya Massey, according to case records reviewed by HuffPost.
Grayson, who worked with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, shot Massey at her Springfield residence July 6 after she called authorities for help. She was later pronounced dead at a hospital, the sheriff’s office said in a statement at the time.
With few details released in the days following the shooting, community members protested to demand answers on what led to Massey’s death.
“We want to know why, we want to know what led up to this shooting and we want to know how it goes from calling for help to being murdered by the exact same people that are supposed to protect us,” protest organizer Tiara Standage said last week, according to local news station WAND.
A newly released court document cited by The Associated Press indicated that Grayson had “aggressively yelled” at Massey to put down a pot of water, but that she was shot in the face after she put her hands in the air and ducked for cover.
Prosecutors said Grayson then discouraged another responding officer from getting his medical kit, according to the outlet.
Grayson’s employment was terminated following an investigation by state police, the sheriff’s office said Wednesday, adding that “the deputy did not act as trained or in accordance with our standards.”
Ben Crump, an attorney for Massey’s family, said in a statement that Grayson’s indictment is a “step toward justice for Sonya’s loved ones, especially her children, who have endured unimaginable pain and suffering since they were notified of this tragedy.”
“We remain committed to uncovering the truth of what happened and identifying the failures that allowed this tragic death to occur,” Crump said.
The sheriff’s office said that it fully supports the release of deputies’ body-camera footage, which is expected to be made public Monday.
An attorney representing Grayson declined to comment when reached by HuffPost.
