Crime
Illinois sheriff’s deputy charged with murder shot Sonya Massey in the face after ordering her to move a pot of water
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois sheriff’s deputy accused of murdering a Black woman shot her in the face during a tense standoff over a pot of water in her home, then discouraged his partner from trying to save her, authorities said Thursday.
The details were in a court document filed to support keeping fired Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson in custody without bail. County District Judge Ryan M. Cadagin agreed, denying Grayson pretrial release at a hearing Thursday in Springfield.
In the courtroom, which was guarded by a dozen sheriff’s deputies and with three more patrolling the courtroom, Cadagin described the actions of which the former deputy is accused as “such a huge departure from the expectations of civil society.”
Sonya Massey, 36, was killed in her home in the Illinois capital, about 200 miles (322 kilometers) south of Chicago, after officers responded to her 911 call about a possible burglar in the early morning hours of July 6.
Prosecutors said that after Grayson allowed Massey to move a pot of water heated on the stove and set it on the counter, Grayson “aggressively yelled” at Massey over the pot and pulled out a 9 mm handgun. Massey put her hands up, said “excuse me” and ducked before she was shot in the face. Grayson also discouraged the other deputy from taking his medical kit, prosecutors said.
“The second deputy continued to provide aid and stayed with Ms. Massey until medical assistance arrived,” wrote Mary Rodgers, an assistant state’s attorney. Grayson “did not attempt to provide aid to Ms. Massey at any time.”
Grayson, 30, who’s white, has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and abuse of authority. He pleaded not guilty during his initial court appearance Thursday.
More than 30 members of Massey’s family and their supporters sat in the courtroom Thursday, several of whom declined to comment.
No one has challenged the state’s contention that the body-worn camera footage supports the first condition of Grayson’s detention — that there may be a strong presumption that the conduct alleged in the indictment occurred. Authorities have said they plan to publicly release the body-worn camera footage on Monday.
“At no point did the defendant demonstrate anything but callousness towards human life,” Rodgers said.
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Defense attorney Dan Fultz argued for Grayson’s release, saying the state’s case was inadequate when weighed against other arguments. Fultz said Grayson posed no threat to the community because he was compliant and turned himself in to police inside a half-hour of the warrant being issued.
He said the Army veteran owns a home in Riverton, a community east of Springfield, with his fiancée, whom he plans to marry in the fall. His retention could be a burden on the county, he said, because of Stage 3 colon cancer diagnosed last fall that requires special treatment.
Fultz requested Grayson’s release on the conditions that weapons be faraway from his home, that he undergo a mental health evaluation and that he be placed on 24-hour electronic monitoring.
Cadagin concluded that Massey, who weighed about 110 kilos (50 kilograms), posed no threat to Grayson, who was 6-foot-3, 240 kilos (190 centimeters) tall and 240 kilos (103 kilograms), who was armed and accompanied by one other deputy, and who refused to render aid after being shot.
Sheriff Jack Campbell said Wednesday that Grayson was fired since it is obvious the deputy “did not conduct himself in accordance with our standards or in accordance with our training. … We assume a tremendous amount of responsibility with our badge, and if that responsibility is abused, there should be consequences.”
Ben Crump, a lawyer for the Massey family, said the charges were “a step towards justice for Sonia’s loved ones, especially her children, who have endured unimaginable pain and suffering since learning of this tragedy.”
About 200 people gathered at the NAACP headquarters in Springfield on Wednesday to show support for Massey and her family.
“I am outraged that another innocent black woman has lost her life at the hands of a police officer,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said after the arraignment.
Grayson is due back in court on Aug. 26. Fultz said he has been with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department for about 18 months, after serving as an officer for about seven years with several other police agencies in central Illinois.
Crime
Luigi Mangione, 26, in police custody in connection with the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO
New York authorities have identified 26-year-old Luigi Mangione as an individual of interest in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
According to police, a McDonald’s worker recognized Mangione in a photograph taken by NYPD Crime Stoppers and called authorities to report that he was eating at the restaurant, which led to his arrest.
Police say Mangione was carrying an anti-corporate manifesto, false identification and a ghost gun.
“It fits the description we were looking for,” Mayor Eric Adams said. An early NYPD report drew criticism online for calling the suspect a “light-skinned male” fairly than simply saying he was white.
The New York Post reports that Mangione previously attended the University of Pennsylvania, was valedictorian of the highschool in 2016 and had ties to Towson, Maryland. His social media posts indicate motivation related to dissatisfaction with the health care industry.
The shooting gained national attention because of the lukewarm response to Thompson’s death from many voters, who criticized the high insurance denial rate and greed that contributed to the American loss of life.
NYPD officers will now travel to Pennsylvania to query Mangione. Watch the entire press conference below:
Crime
OJ Simpson’s audio testimony claims have been proven false
Iroc Avelli, OJ Simpson’s former bodyguard, claimed to have a recording of the late NFL player admitting to killing Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. According to .evaluation of the audio recording showed the claim to be false.
In June 2024, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) contacted the Bloomington, Minnesota police department to realize access to thumb drives confiscated during Avelli’s 2022 arrest.
Bloomington Police Department arrested Avelli for alleged assault in 2022; upon arrest, the police seized Avelli’s backpack and obtained an order to gather relevant evidence on the scene. The backpack contained multiple flash drives that the previous security guard said contained Simpson’s confessions.
According to Peasant! News“search warrant filed in Hennepin County requested by Officer George Harms seek for image pendrives in order that “a full forensic examination could possibly be carried out on all of the pendrives to acquire the recording.”
The Bloomington Police Department didn’t return the drives, opting as an alternative to conduct an internal forensic examination. After a digital forensics specialist examined the drives, Bloomington police didn’t disclose any information of “probative value” to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The further investigation into the Simpson and Goldman murders is strange because on October 3, 1995, OJ Simpson was acquitted of all charges. The former San Francisco 49er maintained his innocence until his death from cancer on April 11, 2024.
After his acquittal, OJ Simpson continued to benefit from his fame. In 1996, the Buffalo Bills player published a book titled If I Did It: Confessions of a Killer. Many found the book’s title and content distasteful and criticized it Naked weapon the actor’s constant presence in celebrity culture.
However, many individuals imagine that Simpson’s acquittal ought to be enough to just accept his presence in all spaces. BLACK ENTERPRISES reports on rapper Cam’Ron’s response to criticism after Simpson was invited on his sports show before his death.
The It is what it’s the host and businessman believes that the accusations – proven in court – shouldn’t result in ostracization. Cam’Ron believes that Simpson’s race may have played a job in continuously questioning his innocence throughout his life.
“Look, if he was guilty, we wouldn’t have him on the show,” he said. “You wish to proceed convicting an innocent man. He is innocent. If it was another person, whiter, you’d all say, “Oh, he’s innocent.” TO BE reported.
It appears that the hearings and investigation into Orenthol James Simpson’s role, or lack thereof, in his ex-wife’s murder will proceed even after his death.
Crime
Suspect charged with fatally shooting 3-year-old on Thanksgiving Day
Tatisha Refuge, a 47-year-old New Orleans resident, turned herself in to authorities after the death of 3-year-old Rudy Ratliff. Refuge is charged with “manslaughter by negligence.”
Rudy’s mother, Leshawn Ratliff, lives in Texas but visited Refuge, her foster mother, in the previous few days of Thanksgiving. Nov 8 News.
“I came here on Saturday to pick up my older son. He was here over Thanksgiving break, and I came down on Saturday to pick him up so we could go home on Sunday and they could go back to school on Monday.” Ratliff he said.
While playing UNO, Refuge’s unsecured gun fell from her belt and fired, striking Rudy. Ratliff she recounted how the scene unfolded when she discovered Rudy had been shot.
“I began seeing blood coming out of his chest. That’s once I knew he had been shot. So I called 911.
The mother didn’t wish to wait for 911. Instead, she decided to take Rudy to University Medical Center for treatment. She said that after they arrived at the ability, Rudy seemed to be alive. Unfortunately, 20 minutes later she was informed of his death.
Tatisha Refuge has been charged with negligent homicide within the shooting death of 3-year-old Rudy Ratliff. #Khou11 @AmandaHTV
https://t.co/BFIeGhAHYG— KHOU 11 Houston News (@KHOU) December 4, 2024
Ratliff she nurtured her relationship with Refuge and is torn now that the accusations involve her foster mother.
“It was a random shooting. His grandfather’s gun fell. It wasn’t within the secure. It wasn’t within the gun position. I believe it went into the pocket and fell out and shot my son,” Ratliff said. “I understand it was a mistake. I imagine in my heart that it was a mistake. I just don’t understand. I just don’t understand.
The grieving mother began a GoFundMe and is asking the general public for help with Rudy’s burial. To support the Ratliff family of their time of need, click here.
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