Vigil in honor of black woman killed by police

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Vigils were held across the country Sunday in memory of Sonya Massey, a black woman fatally shot by a white sheriff’s deputy in her Illinois home. The shooting has sparked national outrage and prompted his union to try to get his job back.

Controversy surrounding the shooting intensified after video was released last week that captured the horrific incident. Activists have declared Sunday a national day of mourning for Massey, with rallies planned in New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Massey’s hometown of Springfield and other locations. Hundreds of people rallied in Chicago, Brooklyn and other cities over the weekend.

On July 17, Grayson was fired and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and official misconduct in Massey’s death. He is being held without bail.

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police has filed a complaint alleging he was fired “without cause.” They are seeking his reinstatement, payment of lost wages and benefits, and “any other appropriate compensation.”

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Massey family attorney Ben Crump said Massey had a confrontation with police the day before the shooting about a mental health issue. Crump said Massey drove himself to HSHS St. John’s Hospital to seek help but returned home later that day.

An autopsy revealed that she was killed by a bullet that entered under her left eye.

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

Three weeks ago, Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two, called 911 to report a possible intruder in her home. Video footage from the scene shows Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson and another deputy calmly talking to Massey outside the home. They enter the residence and continue talking to Massey, asking for her identification. Grayson saw a pot of boiling water and told Massey to move it to prevent a fire. She moved the pot as the deputies walked away and asked where they were going.

“Away from your hot steaming water,” Grayson says, to which Massey responds, “Away from the hot steaming water? Oh, I will 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,” Grayson says, then grabs his gun.

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

We then hear Grayson calling for emergency services, while the other officer says, “I’m going to get my stuff.”

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

Grayson, 30, served in the Army from 2014 to 2016. According to his personnel file and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, Grayson worked part-time for four different police departments before joining the Auburn, Illinois, police department in July 2021. He later worked as a deputy sheriff in Logan County, joining the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in May 2023.

He has pleaded guilty to drunken driving twice, once while serving in the U.S. Army, records show. A section of his personnel file, obtained by The State Journal-Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, through a Freedom of Information Act request, listed “misconduct (serious offense)” as his reason for leaving the Army on Feb. 27, 2016.

Grayson’s former sergeant wrote in a letter of recommendation for him to the Auburn Police Department: “Other than Mr. Grayson’s drunk driving, he had no other problems during his service in the United States Army.”

Jeff Wilhite, a spokesman for Sangamon County, said the sheriff’s office was aware of both DUIs.

Contributors: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY