Illinois Deputy’s Fatal Shooting of Sonya Massey Exposes Broken Law Enforcement Hiring and Training

The murder trial of Sean Grayson, an Illinois sheriff’s deputy charged with killing Sonya Massey last year, opens a window into the grave consequences of flawed law enforcement practices. On July 6, 2024, Grayson responded to a call about a suspected prowler at Massey’s Springfield home. Instead of protection, his arrival ended in tragedy when he fired three shots, killing Massey, a Black woman who had called for help. The case reveals troubling cracks in police hiring, training, and accountability that strike at the core of community safety and national sovereignty. How Did a Troubled Deputy Get a Badge and...