Additional Coverage:
A former sheriff’s deputy, Sean Grayson, will soon be released on conditions after being charged with murdering Sonya Massey, a Black woman, in her home.
Grayson had been held in custody since the July 2024 shooting, but an Illinois court reversed the detention order. A judge will set conditions for his release, which could include home confinement or monitoring.
Body camera footage showed Grayson firing at Massey even as she raised her arms and apologized. Grayson’s attorney argued he was not a flight risk and had cancer.
The shooting sparked protests and a Justice Department investigation. It also revealed Grayson’s history of violence against women and a questionable military discharge.
The incident prompted an investigation into the sheriff’s office’s treatment of people with disabilities, following concerns raised about interactions with Black individuals.