Illinois sheriff's deputy charged with murder for fatally shooting unarmed woman

Illinois sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson has been fired from the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office.

An Illinois sheriff's deputy has been charged with murder and other crimes for fatally shooting an unarmed woman who called 911 for help after reporting a suspected intruder in her home. Sean Grayson, 30, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct, according to Sangamon County State's Attorney John Milhiser.

The incident occurred on July 6 when Sonya Massey, 36, called 911 to report a suspected intruder in her home. Two deputies, including Grayson, responded to the call and conducted a search of the area. At around 1:21 a.m., the deputies reported that shots had been fired, resulting in Massey being struck by gunfire. She was pronounced dead at St. John's Hospital.

An investigation by the Illinois State Police and the Sangamon County State's Attorney's office found that Grayson was not justified in his use of deadly force. The body-camera footage of the incident will be released publicly on Monday, July 22, after being reviewed by Massey's family and prosecutors.

Grayson has been fired from the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office and is expected to be arraigned. His family has not commented on the charges, and it is unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney.

The case has sparked outrage and calls for justice and accountability. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker released a statement condemning the shooting and thanking the state attorney's office for bringing the appropriate charges. "Sonya Massey was concerned for her safety and called law enforcement to her home for protection," he said. "Like all Illinoisans, she deserved that protection. Instead, innocent and unarmed, she was gunned down by an officer of the law."