The fatal shooting of Sonya Massey has led to the Department of Justice launching a civil rights investigation of the Sangamon County sheriff's office.

SummaryDOJ letter cites statutes from 3 separate federal laws on race, disabilities, police safety The United States Department of Justice has issued a letter formally notifying the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office of potential violations of federal statute,

Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson holds his weapon while speaking to Sonya Massey in her home on July 6. Grayson was charged with first-degree murder after responding to a call from Massey about a suspected intruder at her home.

The US Justice Department has launched a civil rights investigation of Illinois’ Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office four months after a deputy fatally shot Sonya Massey while responding to her call about a possible prowler outside the 36-year-old Black woman’s home.

The fatal shooting earlier this year of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, sparked national outcry over police violence.

The Department of Justice is formally inquiring into Sangamon County for its nondiscrimination practices. County officials said they received a formal letter from the Department of Justice asking for more information after receiving allegations the Sheriff’s Office,

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the deadly police shooting of a Black woman that happened at her downstate Illinois home back in July.