Bullet that killed Sonya Massey hit her near eye, autopsy shows

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Sonya Massey, the Black woman fatally shot by a white sheriff’s deputy earlier this month, was killed by a bullet that struck her left eye, an autopsy released Friday confirmed.

The harrowing details of the Massey case — a woman fatally shot in her home by police officers she had called for help — have sparked national outrage. The chaotic and at times gruesome bodycam video made public earlier this week has led to calls for police reform and a federal investigation.

Massey, 36, was holding a pot of water in her Springfield, Illinois, home when Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean P. Grayson shot her while responding to her call about a possible intruder. Grayson is charged with Massey’s murder and has pleaded not guilty.

Family members reported Friday that Massey had an encounter with police at her home the day before she was shot.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family as the Justice Department investigates, said at a news conference that Massey also drove herself to HSHS St. John’s Hospital to seek help but returned home later that day.

“She needed a helping hand, not a bullet in the face,” Crump said.

Crump had previously said the case would “shock the conscience of America, just as the photographs of Emmett Till after he was lynched did.” The 1955 lynching of the 14-year-old boy in Mississippi helped revive the civil rights movement.

Crump added that the video would provoke similar reactions to those of Laquan McDonald, who was shot 16 times in the back by police in Chicago in 2014, and George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer during an arrest in 2020.

“It’s so senseless, so unnecessary, so unjust, so unconstitutional,” Crump said. “This video is tragic on every level.”

“She’s got… that’s a headshot”

According to court documents, Grayson did not activate his body camera until after the shooting, but the other officer present, who has not been named, did activate his camera when he arrived at Massey’s home.

The video shows Grayson and the other deputy calmly talking to Massey outside her home after the two deputies searched the area outside. The two enter the residence and continue talking to Massey, asking for her identification card.

Grayson then saw the pot of boiling water and told Massey to move it to prevent a fire, according to the footage. The officers distanced themselves from her as she moved the pot.

“Where are you going?” she asks them.

“Away from your hot steaming water,” Grayson says with a laugh before Massey responds, “Away from the hot steaming water? Oh, I will rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

“Huh?” Grayson says as Massey repeats, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

“You better not do that or I swear to God I’m going to shoot you in the face,” the officer replies before drawing his firearm.

Massey ducks and says, “I’m sorry,” the video shows. Both officers yell at her to drop the jar as three gunshots are heard on the video.

Grayson is then heard calling for EMS, reporting that he has a gunshot wound to the head. A few seconds later, the other officer says, “I’m going to go get my kit.”

“She’s done. You can go get it, but that’s a headshot,” Grayson replies.

Officer who shot Massey has a history of red flags

Crump said Friday that he had been made aware of two unsubstantiated allegations of excessive force by Grayson. Both allegations, Crump said, predate Grayson’s employment in Springfield.

Grayson, 30, who was fired by the department, worked for five different departments before joining Sangamon County in May 2023.

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Crump said he and his legal team have also spoken to the U.S. Department of Justice about Grayson. An investigation into the matter was opened earlier this week.

Grayson had a history of drunken driving, known to the sheriff, records show. He had two DUI charges, including one while he was in the Army. His personnel file listed “misconduct (serious offense)” as the reason he retired from the Army in 2016.