Attorney General Kwame Raoul has reacted to the public release of a confrontation that ended with the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, as recorded on an ex-Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy’s body camera. The footage from July 6, which only recently became available to the public, has elicited a statement from Raoul expressing deep sympathy toward Massey’s family. Raoul said, "The body camera footage is horrific, and I offer my deepest sympathy to Sonya Massey’s family as they relive a moment no family should experience," as reported by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

Amidst the community's response to the distribution of the disturbing images, the Attorney General called for calm while the wheels of the legal system slowly turned. “As the community reacts to the release of the footage, I urge calm as this matter works its way through the criminal justice system," as he stated in favor of peace and due process, as per the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

Strongly feeling that the Illinois State Police's investigation followed by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney's referral has met both the explicit requirements and the intent behind the law, Raoul underlined the steps taken to ensure transparency and accountability. As stated by the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, “In Illinois we have made sure that the law mandates independent investigations after officer involved shootings. In this matter it appears that the investigation by the Illinois State Police and the subsequent referral to the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s office have complied with the letter and spirit of the law by providing the appropriate transparency and moving toward accountability," he further elaborated.