On July 6th, former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson responded to a call about a suspected prowler at Sonya Massey’s home in Springfield, Illinois. The recently released body camera footage reveals the tense encounter between Massey and Grayson that ended with Grayson shooting the black woman three times, one fatal blow to the head. An Illinois grand jury has indicted Grayson on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct; he pleaded not guilty.
The video confirms earlier accounts from prosecutors that Massey ducked and apologized as Grayson threatened to shoot her after she refused to set down a pot of hot water on the stove at his request. Prosecutors argue that the distance provided by the counter separating them allowed Grayson both “distance and relative cover” from Massey and the pot of hot water, enabling him to shoot her without hesitation.
The shooting occurred after Grayson and another deputy arrived at Massey’s home in response to a 911 call she made earlier that night reporting a suspected prowler. Upon their arrival, Massey appeared confused and frightened as the deputies attempted to gather information about the situation. After discussing her identification and the presence of a black SUV with broken windows in the driveway, Grayson pointed out the pot on the stove, prompting Massey to move it near the sink. The two seemed to share a brief laugh before she unexpectedly declared, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson then threatened to shoot her if she did not set down the pot and pulled his 9mm pistol as she ducked and raised her hands.
Following the shooting, Grayson discouraged his partner from grabbing a medical kit to save Massey, telling him that it would be futile given the severity of her injury. Ultimately, they did attempt to save her life by administering first aid. During this process, Grayson told responding police that Massey had threatened him with a pot, forcing him to shoot her in self-defense.
The case has drawn widespread attention and criticism, as it is the latest example of black people killed in their homes by police officers. In response to these incidents, civil rights activists have called for increased accountability and transparency from law enforcement agencies when handling such cases. Massey’s family, represented by attorney Benjamin Crump, has also joined this call for change, urging the public not to let Sonya’s death be forgotten amidst other high-profile police violence incidents.
