The sheriff for Illinois’ Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, which employed the former deputy who shot and killed Sonya Massey in her home earlier this month after she called 911 to report a possible intruder, said during public comments Monday night that they had “failed” her.
“Sonya Massey – I speak her name and I’ll never forget it,” Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell said during a “Community Healing & Listening Session” Monday night at Union Baptist Church in Springfield. “She called for help and we failed. That’s all she did: call for help.”
“I’m going to say something right now I’ve never said in my career before: we failed,” Campbell continued. “We did not do our jobs. We failed Sonya. We failed Sonya’s family and friends. We failed the community. I stand here today before you with arms wide open to ask for forgiveness.”
Sean Grayson, the now-former deputy who fatally shot Sonya Massey in her Illinois home July 6 while responding to her 911 call, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct in Massey’s death, and remains in custody.
Sangamon County, Illinois Sheriff Jack Campbell spoke face-to-face with Springfield community members about the death of Sonya Massey for the first time in a public forum on July 29, 2024.
WICS
Many attending Monday’s gathering applauded Campbell’s comments, but some expressed fear and outrage concerning law enforcement and community relations in the area.
“I live alone, and even though I already preferred not to call the police, I’m definitely not calling the police now,” Sierra Helmer, a Springfield resident, said Monday. “If I do need help, I should be able to call the police. Police officers are meant to protect and serve, but here in Springfield, apparently, and shown on camera, they harassed and unfortunately kill. Sonya’s tragic death has sparked an outrage in me as a single Black woman who was raised by a Black woman and having many other Black women raise me.”
Helmer’s comments also were met with applause and some cheers from community members.
“I asked Ms. Massey and her family for forgiveness,” Campbell said. “I offer up no excuses. What I do is offer our attempt to do better, to be better.”
“We will probably never know why he did what he did,” Campbell continued, referring to Grayson, “but I’m committed to providing the best service we can to all of you.”
Campbell also said Monday night that he will not resign his position.
“I cannot step down,” he said. “I will not abandon the sheriff’s office at its most critical moment. That will solve nothing. The incident will remain.”
Grayson, 30, and a second, unnamed deputy responded to Massey’s 911 call on July 6 reporting a possible intruder at her Springfield home.
Sonya Massey died at 36 years old.
Courtesy Ben Crump
Body camera footage released last week and reviewed by ABC News shows Massey, who was unarmed, telling the two responding deputies, “Please, don’t hurt me” once she answered their knocks on her door.
Grayson responded, “I don’t want to hurt you, you called us.”
Later in the video, while inside Massey’s home as she searches for her ID, Grayson points to a pot of boiling water on her stove and says, “We don’t need a fire while we’re in here.”
Massey then pours the water into the sink and tells the deputy, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
Grayson then shouts at Massey and threatens to shoot her, the video shows, and Massey apologizes and ducks down behind a counter, covering her face with what appears to be a red oven mitt. She briefly rises, at which time Grayson shoots her three times in the face, the footage shows.
The footage is from the point of view of Grayson’s partner, because Grayson did not turn on his own body camera until after the shooting, according to court documents.
A review by Illinois State Police found Grayson was not justified 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 were filed against him.
Massey family attorney Ben Crump has said the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the shooting. However, Chicago ABC station WLS reported last week that the Justice Department told them in a statement that it “is aware of and assessing the circumstances surrounding the tragic officer-involved death of Ms. Sonya Massey and extends condolences to her family and loved ones.”
Grayson himself has a history of problematic behavior. Prior to his time in public law enforcement, he was discharged from the U.S. Army for unspecified “misconduct (serious offense),” according to documents obtained by ABC News.
ABC News also learned that Grayson was charged with two DUI offenses in Macoupin County, Illinois, in August 2015 and July 2016, according to court documents.
James Wilburn, Massey’s father, criticized Sheriff Campbell for his role in Grayson’s employment and called for Campbell to resign at a press conference last week.
“The sheriff here is an embarrassment,” Wilburn said. “[Grayson] should have never had a badge. And he should have never had a gun. He should have never been given the opportunity to kill my child.”
ABC News’ Sabina Ghebremedhin and Dhanika Pineda contributed to this report.
Sheriff Apologizes for Failure to Assist Sonya Massey During Shooting Incident
In a recent press conference, Sheriff John Thompson issued a public apology for the failure of his department to assist Sonya Massey during a shooting incident that occurred last week. Massey, a local resident, called 911 multiple times during the incident but was unable to get through to emergency services.
The incident began when Massey heard gunshots outside her home and immediately called 911 for help. However, due to a high volume of calls at the time, Massey was placed on hold and was unable to speak with a dispatcher. Despite her repeated attempts to reach someone for assistance, Massey was left feeling helpless and scared as the situation escalated.
Sheriff Thompson acknowledged the shortcomings of his department in handling the situation and expressed deep regret for the distress caused to Massey. He stated, “I want to sincerely apologize to Ms. Massey for the failure of our dispatch system to respond promptly to her calls for help. It is unacceptable that a member of our community was left feeling abandoned in a time of need.”
Thompson also announced that an internal investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the communication breakdown and to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. He assured the public that steps would be taken to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the dispatch system to ensure that all calls for help are promptly addressed.
The incident has sparked outrage among community members, who have called for accountability and transparency from law enforcement agencies. Many have expressed concern over the lack of timely response to emergency calls and have called for reforms to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
In response to the public outcry, Sheriff Thompson has promised to work closely with community leaders and stakeholders to address concerns and improve communication between law enforcement and residents. He emphasized the importance of building trust and collaboration with the community to ensure public safety and well-being.
As the investigation into the incident continues, Sheriff Thompson has urged residents to report any issues or concerns they may have with the dispatch system. He emphasized the importance of open communication and feedback from the community to help improve emergency response services and ensure that all residents feel safe and supported in times of need.
Overall, the apology issued by Sheriff Thompson serves as a reminder of the critical role that law enforcement plays in ensuring public safety and the importance of addressing shortcomings in emergency response systems. By acknowledging mistakes and taking steps to rectify them, Sheriff Thompson has shown a commitment to accountability and transparency in serving the community.
