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(NewsNation) — A 36-year-old Black woman, Sonya Massey, was changeable dormant by an Illinois sheriff’s lawman successful aboriginal July aft calling the constabulary to her location for reports of a “prowler.”
Sean Grayson, a sheriff’s lawman for Sangamon County Sheriff's Office successful Springfield, Illinois, changeable Massey successful the aboriginal hours of July 6, soon aft helium and different lawman came to her location successful effect to the call.
Prosecutors said successful tribunal that portion Grayson was successful her home, helium asked Massey to determination a cookware of blistery h2o connected her stove to forestall an accidental fire. When she did, Grayson drew his limb connected her, threatening to sprout her unless she enactment the cookware down.
Grayson has been charged with 3 counts of first-degree murder, aggravated artillery with a firearm and authoritative misconduct.
Who is Sonya Massey?
Sonya Massey, a parent of two, was calved successful 1988 successful San Diego to Donna Massey and James Wilburn. She had 3 sisters, a son, Malachi, and a daughter, Jeanette.
This undated photograph provided by the family's lawyers successful July 2024 shows Sonya Massey of Springfield, Ill. Prosecutors person charged Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson with murdering Massey portion responding to an exigency telephone astatine her location July 6, 2024, saying successful tribunal records that helium changeable her successful the look during a tense infinitesimal implicit a cookware of h2o successful her home. (Courtesy Ben Crump Law via AP)
A location successful Springfield, Ill. stands Thursday, July 18, 2024. Prosecutors person charged a sheriff's lawman with the execution of Sonya Massey and impeach Sean Grayson of shooting the Black pistillate successful the look connected July 6, 2024, portion responding to her study of an intruder astatine her home. (AP Photo/John O'Connor)
Illinois authorities Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, speaks to reporters portion household members of Sonya Massey comfortableness 1 different successful Springfield, Ill. connected Monday, July 22, 2024. A erstwhile Sangamon County sheriff's lawman has been charged with execution aft shooting Massey wrong her location portion responding to a 911 telephone connected July 6. (AP Photo/John O'Connor)
In a quality league with Massey’s family, celebrated civilian rights lawyer Ben Crump said that Massey suffered from intelligence wellness issues and erstwhile she was killed, what she had needed was a “helping hand.”
At a quality conference, Massey's lad called her a "ball of energy," and said she could speech to anybody.
What happened to Sonya Massey?
Massey was killed connected July 6 by Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson.
Despite Massey behaving erratically, the speech betwixt her and the officers was civilian until Grayson’s spouse moved further distant arsenic Massey took a cookware of h2o disconnected the stove.
According to body camera footage, Grayson had explained wherefore his spouse had moved back, she replied, “I rebuke you successful the sanction of Jesus” portion holding the pot. When asked what she had said, Massey repeated it earlier Grayson said, “You amended f—ing not, I curse to god, I volition sprout you successful your f—ing face.”
The video beneath is graphic. Viewer discretion is advised.
Grayson pulled a weapon from his holster and demanded she driblet the cookware portion pointing the weapon astatine her.
The assemblage camera footage has an obstructed view, but the cookware of h2o deed the crushed precise adjacent to erstwhile shots had been fired.
Grayson past advised his spouse not to drawback the aesculapian kit to assistance her.
“You tin spell get it, but that’s a headshot,” helium said. “There’s thing you tin do, man.”
Investigation into Massey’s death
Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said helium did not find Grayson’s usage of deadly unit “justified.” Grayson is presently successful custody and has been fired.
Both the Illinois State Police and Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office person addressed transparency concerns with nationalist information, and person since released the assemblage camera footage.
Sheriff Jack Campbell said successful a connection that Massey mislaid her beingness due to the fact that of a “reckless” determination and expressed sympathy for Massey’s family.
The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed it is “assessing the circumstances” surrounding Massey’s death.
According to the Illinois Law Enforcement and Standards Board, Grayson worked astatine six instrumentality enforcement agencies successful 4 years aft being charged connected aggregate occasions for driving nether the influence. , Grayson had worked astatine six instrumentality enforcement agencies successful 4 years aft being charged doubly for driving nether the influence. At a quality conference, Massey’s household called for an probe into wherefore the Sangamon County Sherrif’s Office hired him.
State and societal media response
Following Massey’s death, aggregate protests person gathered demanding the merchandise of much information.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a statement expressing his sympathy for Massey’s household and his gratitude that the Springfield State’s Attorney’s bureau had brought distant the “appropriate charges” against Grayson successful this case.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris besides issued statements astir Massey’s sidesplitting saying that she deserved justice and she deserved to beryllium safe.
Social media users person been utilizing the hashtag "#SayHerName" successful notation to Massey's killing, a hashtag often utilized to item the stories of Black women who person been killed by police.
"I person thing incisive oregon insightful to accidental astir the execution of Sonya Massey," 1 idiosyncratic said in a station connected X. "My bosom is w/her loved ones #SayHerName."
Singer Solange Knowles besides took to X to post her condolences for Massey and her family.
"Rest successful powerfulness Sonya Massey, and an abundance of emotion and powerfulness to SOnya's household connected this journey," the station read.
