Sonya Massey, a Black woman, was fatally shot by an Illinois sheriff’s deputy in her home, as revealed in body camera footage released on Monday. The incident occurred on July 6, when former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson, who is white, shot Massey three times, with a fatal blow to the head.
An Illinois grand jury recently indicted Grayson, 30, on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. Grayson, who has pleaded not guilty, faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.
The body camera video confirms prosecutors’ account of the tense moment when Grayson, from across a counter, ordered Massey to set down a pot of hot water and threatened to shoot her. Massey ducked, briefly rose, and Grayson fired his pistol.
Massey, 36, had called 911 earlier that night to report a suspected prowler. The video shows deputies arriving at her Springfield home just before 1 a.m., where they found a black SUV with broken windows in the driveway. Massey took three minutes to open the door and immediately pleaded, “Don’t hurt me.”
She appeared confused as she spoke to the deputies, repeatedly saying she needed help and referencing God. Inside the house, Massey sat on her couch, looking through her purse for identification. Grayson then noticed a pot on the stove and commented, “We don’t need a fire while we’re here.”
Massey got up, moved the pot near the sink, and shared a laugh with Grayson over her pan of “steaming hot water” before she suddenly declared, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson responded with a threat, “You better (expletive) not or I swear to God I’ll (expletive) shoot you in your (expletive) face.”, drew his 9mm pistol, and demanded she drop the pot. Massey apologized, “OK, I’m sorry.”, raised her hands, and ducked. Grayson, positioned in the living room separated by a counter, then fired.
After shooting Massey, Grayson discouraged his partner from retrieving a medical kit, saying, “You can go get it, but that’s a headshot. There’s nothing you can do, man.” Noting that Massey was still breathing, Grayson eventually agreed to get his kit. His partner suggested they could at least try to stop the bleeding.
Grayson told responding officers that Massey had come at him with boiling water after declaring she would rebuke him in the name of Jesus. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Massey’s family, called Grayson’s justification “disingenuous” and noted Massey had invoked God’s name throughout the encounter.
During Massey’s funeral, Crump stated the video would “shock the conscience of America.” Massey’s father, James Wilburn, demanded transparency in the investigation and prosecution. “The only time I will see my baby again is when I leave this world,” Wilburn said.
Grayson, who was fired last week, is being held without bond. If convicted, he faces prison sentences ranging from 45 years to life for murder, 6 to 30 years for battery, and 2 to 5 years for misconduct. His lawyer, Daniel Fultz, argued for his release, citing Grayson’s compliance with authorities and his medical condition.
The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged Massey’s death as a result of “an unjustifiable and reckless decision,” stating that Grayson had other options available and his actions were inexcusable. Massey’s death adds to the list of Black individuals killed by police in their homes in recent years.
The charges against Grayson are seen as a step toward justice for Massey’s family, who have endured immense pain since the tragedy. Up to 200 people gathered at the Springfield NAACP building to support Massey’s family. Grayson is due back in court on August 26.
This incident has sparked a renewed call for accountability and justice, highlighting the ongoing issue of police killing Black people in the United States.
