Sonya Massey’s family suspects police officers tried to cover up the officer-involved shooting that led to her death by telling staff at an Illinois hospital that the mother of two had shot herself.
Massey, 36, called police to her Springfield, Illinois, home in the early hours of July 6 to report a burglar in the area. Two Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies responded to the call.
After searching the area for 30 minutes, during which they found no suspect, the two entered Massey’s home and began talking to her. While she was boiling some water in a pot, Deputy Sean Grayson shot her three times, killing her.
The family’s attorney, Ben Crump, said at a news conference Tuesday that audio from the dispatcher the night of the shooting shows an officer claiming Massey’s wounds were self-inflicted. This comes as the DOJ confirms an investigation is underway.
Crump told reporters that the Massey family only learned through the media that she had been shot by a sheriff’s deputy. Another family member said they learned she had been shot by an intruder.
If it wasn’t for the camera footage, [law enforcement] “Could they have lied their way out of this?” said Massey’s grieving father James Wilburn.
Sonya Massey’s 17-year-old son, pictured center, with other family members and attorney Ben Crump, right, told reporters Tuesday that he was unable to view the graphic bodycam video of his mother’s death.
Massey, 36, called police to her Springfield, Illinois, home early on the morning of July 6 to report a burglar in the area. She was shot and killed by one of the responding officers 30 minutes later.
Wilburn has also called for the resignation of Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell.
“I want to tell you that the sheriff here is a disgrace,” Wilburn said. “This man (Grayson) should never have had a badge. And he should never have had a gun. He should never have had the opportunity to kill my child.”
A transcript of 911 scanner traffic from that night shows two people discussing the shooting. One of them claims to be at the scene, but also says Massey died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Jimmie Crawford, the father of Massey’s daughter, said at Tuesday’s news conference that he was told a neighbor was the perpetrator.
Crump also said Tuesday that given the circumstances surrounding the case, the Justice Department’s involvement is welcome.
Both President Joe Biden and Democratic nominee-in-waiting Vice President Kamala Harris have released statements expressing support for the Massey family. Harris called the deaths “senseless.”
Crump confirmed that arrangements are being made for Harris to meet with Massey’s family. The attorney described the meeting between Massey’s mother and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, which was held at a Baptist church.
“They understood that the Sonya Masseys of the world often don’t get a fair trial. And they were determined to say that this would be a fair and transparent investigation and trial at every level,” he said.
Sonya Massey, 36, was a loving mother of two who struggled with mental health issues
Grayson has since been fired and has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder.
Crump neither confirmed nor denied that the family will file a civil lawsuit in the matter, but he did say they are “exploring all possible legal avenues to obtain full justice for Sonya Massey.”
Wilburn, meanwhile, reiterated his frustration that Grayson was hired by the sheriff’s department, given that he had two DUI convictions. The former officer also worked in several police departments in just a few years.
In an interview with CBS News, Massey’s 17-year-old son Malachi and her mother Donna said police “kept changing the story” by claiming nurses had been told Massey had committed suicide.
Malachi said he watched the beginning of the bodycam video of his mother’s shooting but didn’t finish it. “I have no words for this,” he said.
The mother of two’s father was the first to tell the public that they were told at her funeral, held July 19 in Springfield, that Massey had committed suicide.
Sean Grayson briefly worked part-time for three small police departments and full-time for a fourth department. He also worked full-time for two sheriff’s offices, all in central Illinois.
Footage from the sheriff’s body camera was released Monday, corroborating prosecutors’ earlier account of the tense moment when Grayson shouted over the counter at Massey to put down a pot of hot water.
Sean Grayson faces up to life in prison if convicted of three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and official misconduct
James Wilburn called Sean Grayson’s badge wearing a ‘disgrace’ to our country
He then threatened to shoot the unarmed woman, Massey ducked and stood up briefly, and Grayson fired his gun at her, hitting Massey three times, with a fatal shot to the head.
According to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, Grayson was hired part-time by the Pawnee Police Department on August 11, 2020.
On February 4, 2021, he was also hired part-time by the Kincaid Police Department and on May 20, 2021, by the Virden Police Department.
Two months later, he was hired full-time by the Auburn Police Department and remained there until May 1, 2022, when he was hired full-time by the Logan County Sheriff’s Office.
Grayson left Logan County on April 28, 2023 and was hired full-time by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office on May 1, 2023.
He received his part-time Law Enforcement Certification on June 5, 2021, according to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. His certification status is currently listed as suspended on the board’s website.
Grayson’s attorney, Daniel Fultz, declined to comment.
The family wants Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Both bills were passed by Democrats in the House of Representatives in 2021, but the legislation died in the Senate.
The first measure aims to address police misconduct, excessive use of force and racial bias in law enforcement, while the Voting Rights Act requires local governments to seek federal approval before changing voting laws.
“Every member of Congress needs to vote today so that no one else in the United States of America has to go through what we are going through,” Wilburn said.
Grayson was being held without bail in the Sangamon County Jail. If convicted, he faces 45 years to life in prison for murder, six to 30 years for assault, and two to five years for misdemeanor assault.