Sean Grayson is in police custody and will make his first court appearance on July 18, when he will be arraigned on three counts of murder, as well as aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.
Sangamon County State's Attorney John Milhiser said in a news release said he will file a court petition to detain Grayson as he awaits trial under provisions of the Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act.
Video from body-worn camera footage from the incident will be released to the public at 10 a.m. July 22, according to a news release issued by Sangamon County State's Attorney John Milhiser.
The funeral for Massey, 36, a single mother of two children, is scheduled for July 19 at Ruby's Funeral Services & Crematories in Springfield. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing Massey's family and is expected to be in Springfield that day to potentially attend funeral services and speak to the news media.
A news release from Milhiser about Massey's death, which has sparked protests coordinated by Black leaders and activists in Springfield and generated national media attention, said Grayson "discharged his firearm, striking Ms. Massey and killing her."
Further details were sketchy in the news release, but it said Grayson and another sheriff's deputy responded to a 911 call in the 2800 block of Hoover Avenue, just outside Springfield's borders, about 12:50 p.m. July 6.
Grayson and the other deputy, who wasn't named, "made contact with the caller, Sonya Massey, at her residence," the release said.
Milhiser said in the release that his office worked closely with the Illinois State Police on an investigation after being contacted by the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department.
"A review of the Illinois State Police investigation, including the body-worn camera footage, does not support a finding that Deputy Sean Grayson was justified in his use of deadly force," the release said.
A Sangamon County grand jury heard evidence on the case the morning of July 17 and returned the five-count indictment.
PHOTO BY DEAN OLSEN
About 150 people gather July 17 outside the Springfield NAACP building to demand information and action by prosecutors in the wake of the July 6 shooting death of Sonya Massey, 36, at the hands of a Sangamon County sheriff's deputy.
The release said Massey's family met in the State's Attorney's Office in Springfield on July 17 with prosecutors and state police officials for an update on the investigation and to allow family members to view body-worn camera footage.
This is a developing story and updates will be posted online at illinoistimes.com.
