Deputy Who Shot Sonya Massey Thought “She Was Going To Kill Me”
Sean Grayson, the former deputy sheriff who shot Sonya Massey, claims that he thought she was going to “kill” him. According to Grayson’s field report from July 9, when Massey unexpectedly stated “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” the officer thought that “she was going to kill me.”
Body-cam footage shows Grayson and his partner speaking to each other in her Illinois home. Massey can be heard saying, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus” twice as she holds a pot of boiling water. The report claims that he gave her “loud, clear verbal commands” to unhand the pot, to which she then ducked and said, “I’m sorry.”
“As I approached the cabinet, Sonya stood up from a crouched position, grabbing the pot, raising it above her head, and throwing the boiling substance to me,” Grayson’s report continued. “I was in imminent fear of getting boiling liquid to my face or chest, which would have caused great bodily harm or death. I fired my duty weapon in Sonya’s direction. I observed Sonya fall to the ground behind the counter.”
The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks alongside family members of Sonya Massey during a press conference at New Mount Pilgrim Church on July 30, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Massey was shot and killed in her home by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson after she called police to report a possible prowler. Grayson, 30, who has since been fired by the department, was indicted by an Illinois grand jury. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.
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In the video capturing the shooting, Grayson can be heard telling Sonya, “You better f**king not, I swear to God I’ll f**king shoot you right in your f**king face,” as a response to her going near the pot of water.
Grayson, 30, is currently facing first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and misconduct in connection with Massey’s July 6 death. The former deputy sheriff pleaded not guilty on July 18 at the Sangamon County Court. He was then fired from the sheriff’s office following the deadly incident, which has sent the nation into an uproar.
Demonstrations and protests sprang up around the country, calling for justice in the death of 36-year-old Sonya Massey. Black community leaders have taken to the streets, calling for police reform.
Some people, including Massey’s father, have called for Jack Campbell, the sheriff in charge of former deputy Grayson, to resign, as per USA Today. As a response, Sheriff Campbell declined to resign and instead asked for forgiveness.
The Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during a press conference for Sonya Massey at New Mount Pilgrim Church on July 30, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Massey was shot and killed in her home by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson after she called police to report a possible prowler. Grayson, 30, who has since been fired by the department, was indicted by an Illinois grand jury. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.
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