By Tierra Stone
AFRO Intern
tierrastone@afro.com
Protests across the country are increasing after the death of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman from Sangamon, Ill. The mother of two was fatally shot by Sheriff Deputy Sean Grayson inside of her home on July 6.
The disturbing footage sparked national outrage after its release on July 22. During a press conference on July 21 members of Massey’s family, attorney Ben Crump and president of the Illinois Chapter of the NAACP, Teresa Haley, shed light on the case.
Shown here, Sonya Massey, in an undated photo with her son, Malachi Hill Massey, now 17 years old. (Credit: Photo courtesy of Ben Crump Law via AP)
“This is a tragic event for us here in Springfield, we’ve had a lot of tragedies lately, but we’re used to it in the Black community—but we’re here to say enough is enough,” said Haley, during the conference that was broadcast by local news stations.
Ben Crump pointed out that Massey also struggled with mental health issues.
“She was dealing with some issues and she needed a helping hand, she didn’t need a bullet to the face,’’ said Crump.
Massey’s family and friends spoke about her life and how they hope legislation will come into effect to prevent these actions from happening.
According to the Center for Policing Equity, a research center, law enforcement officers often interact with people who are dealing with mental illness.
“It is estimated that 7 to 10 percent of all police encounters involve a person who has a mental illness. Most of these encounters do not involve any violence, and some don’t involve a crime at all,” according to information released by the organization. “People with mental illness are no more likely than anyone else to act violently. Despite this, police arrest, injure and kill people with mental illness at higher rates than people without mental illness.”
Grayson has entered a plea of not guilty after being indicted on multiple charges, including first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm.
Following his arrest, the Sangamon County Police Department released a statement via Facebook on behalf of Sheriff Jack Campbell.
“The body worn camera footage has now been released, and the public can see what we saw: Sonya Massey lost her life due to an unjustifiable and reckless decision by former Deputy Sean Grayson. Grayson had other options available that he should have used. His actions were inexcusable and do not reflect the values or actions of our training office. He will now face judgment by the criminal justice system and will never again work in law enforcement.”
The body cam footage released on July 22 shows two Sangamon County Police Department deputies responding to a call for help at the residence of Sonya Massey in the early morning hours of July 6.
Sean Grayson is charged with multiple counts of first degree murder, along with other criminal charges for his actions on July 6 inside of the home of Sonya Massey. (Credit: Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office)
Upon arriving, the deputies check the property for trespassers and, finding no one, proceed to make contact with the 911 caller. The two knock for several minutes with no answer, becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of response. The officers wonder out loud if she is dead or hiding drugs, before Massey finally opens the door praying to God that the officers don’t hurt her.
She is obviously disoriented– and scared.
While one officer continues to check out the property, Grayson enters the home. Massey calmly sits on the couch and tries to answer questions being lodged at her. Ultimately, while inside the home, a pot of water begins to boil, prompting officers to ask Massey to tend to the stove.
“We don’t need a fire while we’re here,” says one of the deputies.
A faucet can be heard and it appears that Massey is pouring the water down the sink. As she handles the pot, one officer backs up, prompting Massey to ask where he is going.
The deputy responds from the living room area, telling Massey he’s moving “away from your hot, steaming water.”
To this, Massey says “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
What happens next in the video has shocked a nation.
Grayson questions Massey’s phrase. “Huh?” he says.
“I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” Massey repeats, unmoved from her spot in the kitchen.
“You better f****** not or I swear to God I’ll f****** shoot you in the f****** face,” Grayson aggressively yells, drawing his gun to combat the soft rebuke.
Massey apologizes and immediately crouches by the sink in fear. As she tries to stand back up with the pot Grayson follows through with his threat and shoots Massey in the face, exactly as he said he would just seconds before.
Grayson then proceeds to tell his partner not to render aid, leaving Massey to gurgle her own blood on her kitchen floor. Eventually, the second officer disregards Grayson’s suggestion and begins to apply pressure to the gunshot wound.
He can also be heard telling other officers that he was in fear of “taking boiling water to the face,” and admits there was no threat of a gun. As Massey bleeds to death, Grayson stands feet away and says he doesn’t want to “waste” his medical kit on her.
He steps outside and can be heard describing her as a “crazy b****” to other officers.
James Wilburn, father of Sonya Massey, speaks to reporters in Springfield, Ill. on Monday, July 22. A former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with murder after shooting Massey inside her home while responding to a 911 call on July 6. (Photo: AP Photo/John O’Connor)
Majority of the encounter was caught on the second officer’s body camera, as Grayson did not turn his body camera on until after Massey had been shot.
After the death of Geroge Floyd in 2022, many cities and states began to ramp up efforts to have officers wear body cameras. Subsequently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that same year, but it has since been halted by members of the U.S. Senate.
Massey’s father, James Wilburn, shared his frustrations with the police and the U.S. Senate regarding their failure to address police brutality and weed out bad cops.
“In 2020 I had quadruple heart bypass surgery. I’ve wondered why God left me here in this world—and maybe it was so that I could tell this whole country that in order to honor my daughter we need to pass the George Floyd Policing Act,’’ said Wilburn.
Wilburn said that he didn’t care if there weren’t enough votes to pass it, he wanted to make sure no one else has to experience what the Massey family is going through.
President Joe Biden released a statement on White House website, sharing his condolences, but also urging Congress to pass the George Floyd Policing Act.
“Sonya’s family deserves justice. I am heartbroken for her children and her entire family as they face this unthinkable and senseless loss. Jill and I mourn with the rest of the country and our prayers are with Sonya’s family, loved ones and community during this devastating time. I commend the swift actions that were taken by the Springfield’s State’s Attorney’s office,” said Biden. “While we wait for the case to be prosecuted, let us pray to comfort the grieving. Congress must pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act now. Our fundamental commitment to justice is at stake.”
The AFRO reached out to the offices of Illinois State’s Attorney John Milhiser and Springfield Defense Attorney Daniel Fultz, but they did not immediately respond to AFRO requests for comment.
