The sheriff of Sangamon County, Illinois, announced Friday that he will retire at the end of the month amid criticism over his handling of the fatal officer-involved shooting of Sonya Massey.
Sheriff Jack Campbell said his retirement will take effect on Aug. 31. His announcement was made after deputy sheriff Sean Grayson allegedly shot and killed Massey at her home near Springfield on July 6 while investigating reports of a prowler in the area.
Campbell described Massey’s death as “tragic” and said the person “truly responsible” for her death was in jail, referring to Grayson, who was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and official misconduct. Grayson has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Campbell said that since the incident, he has been “working tirelessly” to present all the facts to the public while taking steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
“Despite these efforts, some in our community want me to pay the price for that person’s actions, even threatening that I pay that price with my life, my family’s lives, or the lives of my Deputies,” he said in a statement.
The sheriff stated that he has made it his mission to “honor the life of Sonya Massey” by ensuring that no one else falls victim to such “tragic and senseless action.”
“But it has become clear that the current political climate has made it nearly impossible for me to continue effectively in my role,” Campbell said.
Campbell has earlier stated that he had reached out to the Massey family through intermediaries on four separate occasions for a meeting, but they have declined.
The day before the incident, Massey’s mother called 911 and told dispatchers that her daughter was experiencing a mental breakdown but was not a threat to anyone. It is uncertain whether the officers who responded to Massey’s call were aware of her mental health situation.
