It was early July 6, 2024, near Springfield, Illinois. A Black woman suspected a prowler had been lurking outside of her home, so she called 9-1-1 for help. Cops arrived, and when they did, one of them fatally shot her as she stood in her own kitchen. Her name is Sonya Massey, and that white cop was charged with murder.
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Now, a jury of 10 women and five men will decide his fate as his murder trial began this week. Here’s a timeline of everything that will lead up to opening arguments.
The 9-1-1 Call
Sonya Massey, 36, called 9-1-1 to report a suspected prowler outside her home. Around 12:50 a.m., deputies from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, Sean Grayson and his partner responded to Massey’s call.
The Confrontation
After searching around Massey’s home, the deputies did not find a prowler. So, they entered Massey’s home to report they had found nothing suspicious, according to the Associated Press, when Grayson noticed a pot of boiling water on Massey’s stove and ordered her to remove it. Massey, who was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of her death according to a family spokesperson, picked it up.
Body cam footage showed the mother of two teenagers asking why Grayson was backing away, in which he answered to avoid the “hot, steaming water.” Massey told him that she “rebukes you in the name of Jesus.” Per Grayson’s incident report, he “interpreted this to mean she was going to kill me.”
The Fatal Shooting
Grayson, per the body cam footage, pulled his pistol and demanded Massey to drop the pot. Massey, who had admitted herself to a 30-day inpatient mental health program in Missouri, but returned home two days later without explanation, apologized, put the pan down and ducked behind a counter.
That’s when Grayson shot at her three times. Massey was hit once directly under her left eye at 1:21 a.m. Nearly 30 minutes later, Massey was pronounced dead at a hospital.
The Aftermath
The case was referred to the Illinois State Police for investigation that morning, and just two weeks later, the now 31-year-old was fired. Grayson, who had been a Sangamon County deputy sheriff for not even a year and a half, was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery and one count of official misconduct.
The “bragger” and deputy who was “not great with evidence,” per a previous employer of his, background was also questioned, as the AP reported he was kicked out of the Army for drunk driving and having a weapon in his 20s. He was convicted of a second DUI within a year, and over the span of six years had four different policing jobs— three of ’em part time.
The Backlash
Come late that July, Illinois State Police released body cam footage of the shooting to the public. Protests spread like wildfire, so much so the Sangamon County Sheriff, Jack Campbell, resigned following public pressure. Despite it all, Campbell insisted though that none of Grayson’s issues disqualified him from working as a deputy.
Per CNN, even Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton called for Campbell to resign after Massey’s death so the community can “begin to rebuild and restore trust between citizens and the sheriff’s department.”
Grayson’s Plea
Grayson plead not guilty— and cited self-defense— on July 18 and was denied pretrial release. His defense requested the trial should be moved out of Sangamon County due to intense publicity and ongoing protests, and a judge granted it. The trial relocated to Peoria County.
Policing Reforms
This January, change began to happen after the Illinois House passed the “Sonya Massey’s Bill” (House Bill 1953), which requires more thorough background checks before police officers are hired. The bill was inspired by Massey, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, who was killed by a deputy “who had a string of prior discipline complaints.”
Massey’s family was also awarded a $10 million wrongful death settlement with Sangamon County.
Grayson’s Murder Trial
On Monday (Oct. 20), a pool of 100 potential jurors called for selection were narrowed down to 10 women and five men. Opening arguments are scheduled to begin 9 a.m. Wednesday (Oct. 22).
NBC News reported Grayson’s trial is expected to last a week and a half.
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