The U.S. Justice Department is looking into an Illinois county sheriff’s department after a former deputy shot and killed a Black woman in her home, leading to widespread protests and renewed demands for police reform.

A critical letter from the Justice Department sent to Sangamon County Sheriff Paula Crouch and other officials highlighted serious worries regarding the sheriff’s office’s handling of interactions with Black individuals and those dealing with mental health issues, along with various operational procedures.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has examined claims indicating that the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, along with Sangamon County and its Central Dispatch System, may be violating federal anti-discrimination laws.

Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Massey’s family, confirmed back in July that the Justice Department was examining the shooting but lacked further details on the investigation’s scope. The department’s correspondence, spanning eight pages, requests the county’s assistance in gathering records across nearly 30 different areas.

The Justice Department’s information requests include documents related to Massey’s shooting, the sheriff’s office’s protocols for addressing mental health emergencies, hiring practices, demographic data on traffic stops and use-of-force incidents, previous complaints of discrimination, and other pertinent matters.

In a statement released on Friday, Sheriff Crouch indicated her office’s commitment to fully cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigation.

DOJ: Sonya Massey’s Death Suggests ‘Potential Issues’

On July 6, former Deputy Sean Grayson fatally shot 36-year-old Massey after she called 911 for assistance against a possible intruder. Grayson was swiftly terminated from the force and is currently incarcerated facing murder charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty, asserting self-defense. The Justice Department clarified that its investigation is separate from Grayson’s ongoing criminal case.

The letter from the Justice Department mentioned that Massey’s shooting and earlier 911 calls about her in the days before her death point to “potential issues” with the Sangamon County sheriff’s department as well as its emergency response and dispatch operations.

Donna Massey, Sonya’s mother, had contacted 911 just before the fatal incident, reporting her daughter was experiencing a “mental breakdown.” Since their home was within Springfield city limits, the police responded first. Massey’s residence, located in an unincorporated area of Woodside Township, drew response from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office the following day.

The Justice Department has also investigated the sheriff’s office’s employment practices, including concerns that insufficient racial diversity may influence policing services provided to communities of color.

Grayson’s hiring history has raised eyebrows; records reveal he faced two DUI incidents, had a contentious military discharge, and worked at six different law enforcement agencies over a span of four years.

Body Camera Footage Captures the Fatal Incident

Grayson was one of the deputies dispatched to Massey’s home shortly after midnight on July 6.

Body camera video shows Massey in her kitchen holding a pot while the two officers remain a few feet away, separated by a counter. As she lifts the pot, she utters a phrase that Grayson claims caused him to fear for his life: “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

As he reaches for his gun, Grayson shouts, “You better f—— not or I swear to God I’ll f—— shoot you right in your f—— face.”

The footage displays Grayson pointing his firearm at Massey, screaming for her to drop the pot. In response, Massey ducks and says, “I’m sorry,” only for Grayson to fire at her three times, delivering a fatal shot to her head.

1,045 Fatal Police Encounters in 2023

For years, human rights advocates have recorded excessive force utilized by law enforcement across the country, with data indicating that the United States far exceeds other affluent nations in police-related fatalities.

According to Mapping Police Violence, a majority of police killings originate from traffic stops, mental health interventions, disturbances, minor offenses, or cases where no crime is reported.

Data shows that police killings disproportionately affect communities of color. In 2023, Black individuals represented 27% of those killed by police, while making up 13% of the population. Similarly, Native Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders faced disproportionate impacts.

As of 2024, law enforcement has recorded 1,045 fatalities linked to police actions, placing this year on track to be the deadliest since Mapping Police Violence began its data tracking in 2013.