Sheriff who hired ex-deputy charged in Sonya Massey killing announces 'retirement'

The sheriff who was responsible for hiring the ex-deputy that fatally shot Sonya Massey announced that he will 'retire' at the end of the month.

Sheriff Jack Campbell of the Illinois' Sangamon County Sheriff's Office hired Sean Grayson , the former officer who has since been stripped of his title and charged with the first-degree murder of Massey, along with aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct in the July 6 shooting.

"As elected leaders, we must always put the overall good of the community above ourselves; and I will not risk the community that I swore to protect. For this reason, I am announcing my retirement as Sheriff of Sangamon County, effective no later than August 31st," Sheriff Jack Campbell said in the statement.

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Grayson has claimed that when the unarmed black woman who had called 911 for help said "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus," he believed she had intent to cause him deadly harm.

Previously, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell said he was "horrified" by body camera footage that showed former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, a white man, shooting 36-year-old Sonya Massey, a Black woman, in the face as she stood in her kitchen on July 6.

Grayson screamed "I will shoot you in your f------ face" before firing a round that his Sonya just below the eye, killing her. Campbell told the Associated press it will take the rest of his professional life to rebuild trust in the agency.

"We will spend the rest of my career, certainly, trying to mend these fences and build bridges to the community to establish trust again," Campbell declared. "When they call us for help, they expect us to help. Sean Grayson did not help Sonya Massey. And he alone is responsible for his actions."

Then he claimed that he wouldn't be leaving the office - before making this abrupt change. During a community listening session this week, an emotional Campbell publicly apologized but maintained he will not resign. "I will not abandon the sheriff's office at this most critical moment," Campbell declared. "That would solve nothing."

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Grayson and another deputy were called to Sonya's residence early in the morning to investigate a suspected prowler. Inside the house, the atmosphere was light as Grayson instructed Sonya to remove a pan of water from a stove flame, as seen on body camera footage.

Sonya, who had mental health struggles, calmly stated, "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus," This led Grayson to draw his 9 mm pistol, threaten to shoot her in the face, and order her to drop the pan before firing three shots.

Experts and an internal review have pointed out that Grayson had nonlethal means at his disposal if he felt endangered by Sonya or the scalding water. Sheriff Campbell acknowledged that Grayson, who had undergone crisis intervention and mental health crisis response training without any prior use-of-force complaints, inexplicably deviated from protocol.