“I offer no apologies” – NewsNation

In this image from bodycam video released by Illinois State Police, Sonya Massey, left, talks with former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson outside her home in Springfield, Illinois, on July 6, 2024. Footage released by a prosecutor on Monday, July 22, shows a chaotic scene in which Massey, who called 911 for help, is shot in the face by Grayson inside her home. (Illinois State Police via AP)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois sheriff whose deputy shot and killed Sonya Massey, the unarmed black woman who called 911 from her Springfield home, apologized to the community during a meeting Monday night, saying, “I offer no apologies.”

According to local media reports, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell faced a hostile crowd of more than 500 people at a meeting organized by the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service at Union Baptist Church.

“I stand before you today with my arms wide open and I ask for your forgiveness,” Campbell said emotionally. “I ask for forgiveness from Ms. Massey and her family. I am not offering any apologies. What I am doing is offering our attempt to do better, to be better.”

Former deputy Sean Grayson is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and abuse of authority in connection with the July 6 shooting death of Massey, 36. At her home, Massey grabbed a pot of hot water from the stove and Grayson, fearing she might throw it at him, shot it three times, hitting her once in the face, despite having several non-lethal opportunities, authorities say. Grayson, who is white, has pleaded not guilty.

Massey’s family has repeatedly called for the resignation of Campbell, who was elected in 2018 and ran unopposed in 2022. Many participants at the meeting echoed this sentiment.

“I will not abandon the sheriff’s office at this critical moment,” Campbell said. “That would not solve anything.”

Grayson was vetted and approved for hire by Sangamon County in May 2023 despite having two previous drunken driving convictions – the first conviction resulted in his dismissal from the Army for “serious misconduct” – and despite having held six jobs in four years, including that of a deputy sheriff in Logan County, where he was reprimanded for ignoring an order to end a chase and ultimately hitting a deer.

Although a lawyer for the family said last week that the Justice Department had launched an investigation into the incident, a spokesman reiterated Tuesday that the agency is reviewing the case and pursuing criminal proceedings.

Sierra Helmer of Springfield said if she needs the police, she can call them without fear.

“Their job is to protect and serve, but here in Springfield, they are apparently harassing and killing, as the camera shows,” Helmer said.

Tiara Standage, who organized several protests for justice for Massey, urged black voters to reject Campbell in the next election.

“We will not be silent,” Standage said. “We will not allow this issue to be pushed aside.”

The pastor of Union Baptist Church, Reverend T. Ray McJunkins, urged those present to acknowledge the grieving process.

“We are grieving, and the first stage of grieving is to talk about it, to express ourselves, not to murder someone,” McJunkins said. “God also requires us to do justice. We want to begin the healing process tonight.”