Ex-deputy Who Shot Sonya Massey Is Denied A Request For Medical Release From Prison

CHICAGO — A erstwhile Illinois sheriff’s lawman won’t get an early aesculapian merchandise from his two-decade situation condemnation for sidesplitting Sonya Massey wrong her location aft nan Black female called 911 astir a imaginable prowler, authorities officials decided Friday.

Sean Grayson had been diagnosed pinch colon crab earlier nan 2024 shooting, and his lawyer noted successful January that nan crab had precocious to his liver and lungs.

The three-member Illinois Prisoner Review Board voted unanimously Friday to contradict Grayson’s exertion for early aesculapian release, Liz Mitchell, a committee spokesperson, said successful an email.

Grayson, who is white, was convicted successful October of second-degree execution for Massey’s killing, a lawsuit that sparked protests complete systemic racism and a U.S. Department of Justice review.

Body camera footage showed Grayson and different lawman participate Massey’s location successful Springfield, Ill. Minutes later, Grayson changeable nan 36-year-old azygous mother successful nan look arsenic she moved a cookware of basking h2o from nan stove and told him, “I rebuke you successful nan sanction of Jesus.”

Grayson was fixed nan maximum imaginable sentence.

He revenge for early merchandise from situation successful May, six months into his sentence, according to a copy of his exertion published by Capitol News Illinois. Grayson apologized for Massey’s decease astatine his January sentencing, but successful nan merchandise exertion he wrote she had “attacked maine pinch a cookware of boiling water.”

Daniel Fultz, an lawyer who has represented Grayson, declined to remark Friday.

In a missive to nan committee opposing Grayson’s release, Sangamon County State’s Atty. John Milhiser said nan erstwhile deputy’s aesculapian information was already considered astatine sentencing.

“To merchandise Grayson nether these circumstances would beryllium a miscarriage of justice,” he wrote, “and an reproach to Sonya Massey’s representation and family.”

Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, attorneys representing Massey’s family, said Friday that nan committee “made nan correct decision.”

“Today nan committee recognized what this family has said from nan start,” they said successful a statement. “No 1 is supra accountability, and a badge does not supply an early measurement out.”

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said successful a connection that Illinois rule requires nan Prisoner Review Board to see aesculapian merchandise requests. He called Massey’s sidesplitting “a profound loss.”

“Sonya was innocent, unarmed, and calling rule enforcement for help,” he said. “It was a achy reminder that excessively galore guiltless Black Americans person faced this benignant of unit — and they merit justice.”

Mayes-Osterman writes for nan Associated Press.