SPRINGFIELD – Police agencies in Illinois will soon be required to do more thorough background checks on prospective officers.

The measure signed by Gov. JB Pritzker Tuesday came in response to the July 2024 shooting death of Sonya Massey in Sangamon County by a sheriff’s deputy. Massey had called police to report a prowler and was in her home when she was shot to death by Deputy Sean Grayson while removing a pot of boiling water from the stove, with permission.

The signing came at the governor’s Capitol office, where he was flanked by members of Massey’s family, including daughter Jeanette “Summer” Massey, son Malachi Hill-Massey and mom Donna Massey, among others.

“I just want to say I miss my mom every day – like every day. And it hurts that she’s not here with me,” Massey’s son, Hil

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