Illinois sheriff, whose deputy killed Sonya Massey apologizes: 'I offer up no excuses'

Illinois sheriff, whose deputy killed Sonya Massey apologizes: ‘I offer up no excuses’

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The Illinois sheriff whose deputy shot Sonya Massey, the unarmed Black woman who called 911 for help in her Springfield home, apologized to the community.

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In this image taken from body camera video released by Illinois State Police, Sonya Massey, left, talks with former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson outside her home in Springfield, Ill., July 6, 2024. Footage released Monday, July 22, by a prosecutor reveals a chaotic scene in which Massey, who called 911 for help, is shot in the face in her home by Grayson. (Illinois State Police via AP)

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FILE - Sonya Massey’s home, the scene of her fatal shooting, stands Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Springfield, Ill. Prosecutors have charged a sheriff’s deputy with Massey’s murder. Sean Grayson is accused of shooting the Black woman in the face on July 6, 2024, while responding to her report of an intruder at her home. (AP Photo/John O’Connor, File)

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Malachi Hill Massey, de 17 años, en el centro, habla en una conferencia de prensa el martes 23 de julio de 2024, en la sede de la NAACP en Springfield, Illinois, sobre su madre, Sonya Massey, quien fue abatida a tiros por un policía del condado de Sangamon el 6 de julio en Springfield tras llamar al 911 para pedir ayuda. (Foto AP/John O’Connor)

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In this image taken from body camera video released by Illinois State Police on Monday, July 22, 2024, former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson, left, points his gun at Sonya Massey, who called 911 for help, before shooting and killing her inside her home in Springfield, Ill., July 6, 2024. (Illinois State Police via AP)

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James Wilburn, father of Sonya Massey, speaks to reporters in Springfield, Ill. on Monday, July 22, 2024. A former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with murder after shooting Massey inside her home while responding to a 911 call on July 6. (AP Photo/John O’Connor)

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Illinois state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, speaks to reporters while family members of Sonya Massey comfort one another in Springfield, Ill. on Monday, July 22, 2024. A former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with murder after shooting Massey inside her home while responding to a 911 call on July 6. (AP Photo/John O’Connor)

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Rev. Jesse Jackson, right, shakes the hand of a supporter before a rally over the shooting death of Sonya Massey, who was killed by Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, at New Mount Pilgrim Church in the Garfield Park neighborhood in Chicago, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

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Donna Massey, center right, wipes tears from her face as she listens to Rev. Al Sharpton, right, speak during a press conference over the shooting death of her daughter Sonya, who was killed by Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, at New Mount Pilgrim Church in the Garfield Park neighborhood in Chicago, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

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Jimmie Crawford, father of Sonya Massey’s daughter Summer Massey, speaks during a press conference over the shooting death of Sonya, who was killed by Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, at New Mount Pilgrim Church in the Garfield Park neighborhood in Chicago, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

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Rev. Al Sharpton, center, joined with family and supporters of Sonya Massey, speaks during a press conference over the shooting death of Massey, who was killed by Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, at New Mount Pilgrim Church in the Garfield Park neighborhood in Chicago, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

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Tears stream down the face of Donna Massey as she listens to Attorney Ben Crump speak during a press conference over the shooting death of her daughter Sonya, who was killed by Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, at New Mount Pilgrim Church in the Garfield Park neighborhood in Chicago, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

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Attorney Ben Crump, left, helps Donna Massey, mother of Sonya Massey, towards the podium during a press conference over the shooting death of Sonya, who was killed by Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, at New Mount Pilgrim Church in the Garfield Park neighborhood in Chicago, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

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Rev. Al Sharpton, left, holds hands and leads Summer Massey, daughter of Sonya Massey, to the podium during a press conference over the shooting death of Sonya, who was killed by Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, at New Mount Pilgrim Church in the Garfield Park neighborhood in Chicago, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

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Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during a press conference over the shooting death of Sonya Massey, who was killed by Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, at New Mount Pilgrim Church in the Garfield Park neighborhood in Chicago, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

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Donna Massey, Sonya Massey’s mother, wipes tears from her face as she listens to attorney Ben Crump speak during a press conference over the shooting death of Sonya, who was killed by Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, at New Mount Pilgrim Church in the Garfield Park neighborhood in Chicago, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

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Attorney Ben Crump, center, speaks to reporters during a press conference over the shooting death of Sonya Massey, who was killed by Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, at New Mount Pilgrim Church in the Garfield Park neighborhood in Chicago, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Sonya’s mother, Donna Massey, stands at left, and Rev. Al Sharpton, right. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

By JOHN O’CONNOR

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois sheriff whose deputy shot Sonya Massey, the unarmed Black woman who called 911 for help in her Springfield home, apologized to the community during a gathering Monday night, saying, “I offer up no excuses.”

Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell faced a hostile crowd of more than 500 people at Union Baptist Church in a meeting facilitated by the Community Relations Service of the Justice Department, according to local media reports.

“I stand here today before you with arms wide open and I ask for your forgiveness,” an emotional Campbell said. “I ask Ms. Massey and her family for forgiveness. I offer up no excuses. What I do is offer our attempt to do better, to be better.”

Former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct in the death of 36-year-old Massey for the July 6 shooting. Body-worn camera video released July 22 shows that inside her home, Massey moved a pan of hot water from the stove, Grayson apparently feared she would throw it at him. He fired three times, striking Massey once in the face despite having several non-lethal options, authorities say. Grayson, who is white, has pleaded not guilty.

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On Tuesday, the union representing Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies said it would not pursue a grievance demanding Grayson’s reinstatement and return of lost wages and benefits. Filed July 18, it argued that Grayson was fired without just cause and news of the investigation and his dismissal were publicized before he was told.

At a news conference in Chicago, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Massey’s family, praised the decision and said, “That’s what happens when we stand together.”

Massey’s family has repeatedly called for the resignation of Campbell, who was elected in 2018 and ran unopposed in 2022. The sentiment was echoed by many attending the meeting.

“I will not abandon the sheriff’s office at this most critical moment,” Campbell said. “That would solve nothing.”

Grayson was vetted and approved for hiring by Sangamon County in May 2023 despite two drunk-driving convictions, the first of which got him ejected from the Army for “serious misconduct,” and having six jobs in four years, including as a sheriff’s deputy in Logan County, where he was reprimanded for ignoring a command to end a high-speed chase and ended up hitting a deer.

Although a lawyer for the family said last week that the Justice Department had opened an investigation into the incident, a spokesman reiterated Tuesday that the agency is assessing the matter and following the criminal case.

Sierra Helmer of Springfield said if she needs the police, she should be able to summon them without fear.

“They’re meant to protect and serve, but here in Springfield, apparently, as shown on camera, they harass and unfortunately kill,” Helmer said.

Tiara Standage, who organized several protests for justice for Massey, urged Black voters to turn Campbell away at the next election.

The news conference in Chicago preceded a rally for Massey attended by family members and civil right activist the Rev. Al Sharpton. Crump misstated the nature of the grievance, claiming it was filed because the union said Grayson “acted in self-defense” and demaned that “charges be dropped.”

“And I said, ‘My Lord, Rev. Al, did they see the same video we saw?’”

In a statement, Tamara Cummings, general counsel for the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council said grievances are a matter of course and that contractual due process is afforded every union member. However, she said, “The union has determined that it will not be proceeding.” She would not elaborate.

Sharpton renewed calls for Congress to approve the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act which U.S. House Democrats approved in 2021 before the legislation died in the Senate. It aims to crack down on police misconduct, excessive force and racial bias in law enforcement.

And he encouraged Illinois to adopt a law in Sonya Massey’s name that would prevent law enforcement officers from moving rapidly from one department to another, suggesting that Grayson was forced out of one or more previous jobs. There’s no evidence of that despite some discipline problems.

“If you’re bad in one precinct, why would we think all of a sudden you have some kind of Damascus Road knock-off-the-horse change of heart in another district?” Sharpton said. “A bad cop is a bad cop.”

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The story has been updated to correct that the grievance was filed July 18, not last week.