SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Autopsy findings on Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman fatally shot in her Illinois home by a now-fired sheriff’s deputy charged in her death, confirm that she died from a gunshot wound to the head. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Massey’s family, denounced the killing as senseless, unnecessary and excessive. Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon had previously released initial findings on Massey’s July 6 death. But the full autopsy report released Friday confirm those conclusions, including that her death was a homicide. The fired sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct charges.

BY JOHN O’CONNOR AND RICK CALLAHAN WITH ASSOCIATED PRESS