CHICAGO (CBS) — Calls are growing for the Sangamon County, Illinois sheriff to resign—after one of his deputies shot and killed Sonya Massey in her kitchen after she called for help last month.

Sangamon County Board member Sam Cahnman (D-18th) said he will introduce a resolution to have a referendum added to the ballot in November—simply asking voters whether Sheriff Jack Campbell should resign.

Campbell has defended his decision to hire Sean Grayson, the deputy who shot and killed Massey early on Saturday, July 6, at her house outside Springfield. He shot her when she checked on a pot of boiling water in her own kitchen while saying, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

Grayson was fired from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s office and has been charged with Massey’s murder. Meanwhile, his past has raised new questions over the decision to hire him in the first place.

Despite two previous DUIs and a discharge from the U.S. Army in 2016 for serious misconduct, Grayson was hired by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. Grayson also had a disciplinary file that included accusations of bullying behavior and abuse of power, records obtained by CBS News show.

Two of the six law enforcement agencies for which Grayson had worked since 2020 said he needed more training, while a third said he “did not demonstrate good officer safety skills.”

But Campbell said Grayson had more training than most officers.

“He was certified to work in Illinois,” said Campbell. “He had to pass all the required testing. He was drug tested and, and he passed a psychological evaluation.”

Campbell said the two DUIs in Grayson’s past were not a “red flag.”

“It was something from his past, and nothing that he did in his past decertified him as a police officer,” Campbell said.

Cahnman took issue with Campbell’s reasoning.

“I would disagree with the sheriff if he said that two DUIs is not a red flag,” he said. “It’s clear to me the man should have never been hired.”

Cahnman hopes to have voters weigh in on whether Campbell should keep his post in a nonbinding referendum.

“‘Should Sheriff Jack Campbell resign?’ and let the voters have a say. And you know, if the majority say he shouldn’t resign, then so be it,” Cahnman said. “But if they say he should resign, then I think he should really take that to heart.”

Campbell has said he will not be resigning.

“We’re going through a very difficult time, and it would be irresponsible for me to abandon the men and women of the Sheriff’s office.”

Cahnman said it was unclear if Grayson and the other deputies who responded to Massey’s home were informed that her mother called 911 the day before to report that Massey was in mental distress.

The way incoming freshman Kasparas Jakučionis played this summer may have solidified the starting point guard spot for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

After an impressive showing in FIBA U18 championships, he is drawing praise from plenty of college basketball analysts. Former Illini player Mike Latulip, who is a contributor to the The Field of 68 podcast, said Jakucionis is the point this season.

“I think he committed maybe in May,” Latulip said. “Through April, you’re kind of like, `Who’s going to be the guy? Who’s going the guy to where you can properly allocate roles for this team.’ Role allocation is important when you return only two guys. Who’s going to be the guy and who’s going to be the guy that everyone plays off and I think that’s Jakučionis.”

The Illini have the option of using Kylan Boswell or Tre White at point but Jaukucionis is the best facilitator on the roster. He is considered a one-and-done prospect who could go in the first round of next summer’s NBA draft.

“The add of Kasparas makes the rest of this roster make sense,” Latulip said. “I don’t think you were going to say, `Hey, we want Tre White to be our primary ball-handler, primary guy. I don’t think you wanted it to be Kylan Boswell. Even though these guys may be capable of it, but what’s your ceiling as a team if that’s the case.” 

Latulip feels Jakucionis helps bring out the best in newcomers like freshmen Will Riley and Morez Johnson.

“What Kasparas allows those guys to do is fall back into their natural positions,” Latulip said. “Those guys can just operate. They don’t have to overextend … He puts that roster together.” 

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Illinois Fighting Illini On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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