Illinois cop accused of killing unarmed woman while on duty

On Wednesday, Grayson was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and official misconduct after a weeks-long investigation by the Illinois State Police and the Sangamon County District Attorney’s Office. At the urging of prosecutors, Judge Ryan Cadagin denied Grayson bail and ordered him jailed. Records show he is in the Menard County Detention Facility.

Grayson, who was discharged after being indicted on Thursday, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of murder.

Sangamon County District Attorney John Milhiser and Grayson’s attorney Dan Fultz declined to comment on the case.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Massey’s family, said his clients have endured “unimaginable pain and suffering” because of what he called “the horrific actions” of a guardian Massey hired to help her.

“Sonya Massey called 911 for protection but was instead tragically shot by Illinois Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson,” Crump wrote Friday on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. “He not only took her life but discouraged his partner from offering help.”

Around 12:50 a.m. on July 6, Grayson and another officer responded to Massey’s 911 call about a burglar near her Springfield home, prosecutor Mary Rodgers wrote in an affidavit. They allegedly entered her home to get more information and make sure it was secure.

While inside, Grayson noticed a pot on the stove and had Massey remove it to prevent an accidental fire, Rodgers said. Meanwhile, the other officer searched Massey’s home and found nothing dangerous, she added.

Grayson then made a comment about the pan, which contained hot water, Rodgers said, to which Massey responded by placing the pan on the counter while Grayson was still in the living room.

Despite having cover and being some distance from Massey, Grayson allegedly pulled out his gun and threatened to shoot Massey in the face. Massey threw her hands up and said, “I’m sorry,” as she ducked behind the counter between them, the prosecutor said.

Grayson approached her and yelled “aggressively” at Massey, Rodgers said. Massey grabbed the pot and threw the water away, according to an Illinois State Police memo obtained by The New York Times.

Grayson then allegedly shot Massey three times, hitting her once in the face.

Only then did Grayson turn on his body camera, Rodgers said, comparing his actions to those of the other officer who turned on his camera when he arrived at Massey’s home.

After Grayson shot Massey, his fellow officer said he was going to get a first aid kit from his vehicle, Rodgers said. Grayson allegedly told him not to worry because of the severity of Massey’s injuries. The other officer rendered aid anyway and stayed with Massey until first responders arrived, she said.

Doctors took her to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, where she died.

That day, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office assigned Illinois State Police to investigate the shooting.

An Illinois State Police use-of-force expert reviewed both officers’ bodycam footage and determined that Grayson’s shooting was unjustified, Rodgers said. The expert compared the shooting “to an officer intentionally and unnecessarily placing himself in front of a moving vehicle and then justifying the use of force out of fear of being hit,” she added.

Grayson’s “disregard for his training as a law enforcement officer and his disregard for human life demonstrates with clear and convincing evidence that he is a danger to the community,” Rodgers said.

On Wednesday, Massey’s family met with prosecutors and state police to get an update on the investigation and to review the officers’ bodycam footage, according to a news release from the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors plan to release that video to the public on Monday.

Grayson was summoned to his first court appearance on Thursday. His next hearing is scheduled for August 26.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on Thursday called Massey’s death a “devastating event and tragedy.”

“We’ve seen this too many times, where an innocent person — unarmed — who actually called for help was targeted and killed in a shooting by a police officer,” Pritzker said.

The governor later said, “The tragedy of this is heartbreaking.”

Daniel Wu contributed to this report.