On Friday, January 17, the U.S. Justice Department and the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office announced an agreement resolving a federal investigation into potential violations of anti-discrimination laws following the fatal shooting of an unarmed Black woman, Sonya Massey, last summer in her home after she called 911 for help.
The agreement concluded that federal officials found no evidence of discriminatory practices by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office or the county’s emergency dispatch system in connection with Massey’s death. As part of the resolution, local authorities committed to implementing several reforms, including enhanced training and improved data reporting on use-of-force incidents. The alleged shooter, former deputy Sean Grayson, was fired and remains in custody on a first-degree murder charge.
