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Sonya Lynaye Wilburn-Massey

Gender : Female

Age : 36

Race : Black

Date : 07/07/2024

Location : 2800 block of Hoover Avenue

City : Springfield

County : Sangamon

State : Illinois

Agency : Sangamon County Sheriff's Office

Officer(s) :Sean Grayson

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during “prowler” call

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 07/06/2024, Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, called 911 to report a suspicious individual near her home in Springfield, Illinois. Sangamon County deputies, including Sean Grayson, responded to her call. After a search around the property, they entered Massey's home, where an altercation occurred. Body camera footage reveals that Deputy Grayson pointed his gun at Massey during an interaction involving a pot of boiling water in her kitchen. Grayson fired, claiming Massey approached him with the pot. Massey was shot in the face and succumbed to her injuries at St. John’s Hospital.
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Grayson, who failed to activate his body camera during critical moments, faces first-degree murder and aggravated battery charges. He was denied bail and has pleaded not guilty. Massey’s family, represented by attorney Ben Crump, is seeking justice and accountability. Sean Grayson, the shooter, was fired and indicted for her murder when John Milhiser, the Sangamon US Attorney found the shooting to be unjustified.
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On 07/18/2024, Officer Grayson ordered held without bond. Judge Ryan M. Cadagin denied Grayson pretrial release at a hearing on 07/18/2024 in Springfield. Judge Cadagin described the role of Deputy Grayson in the killing as “such a departure from the expectations of a civil society.” Deputy Grayson had shot Sonya Massey in the face. The deputy had apparently ordered her to move a pot of water, shot her in the face and then discouraged his partner from saving her life once shot.
.The Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court ordered the pretrial release of Knox County Deputy Nicholas Grayson, who faces charges for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey in July 2023. The decision, delivered by Judge Rita B. Garman, follows an appeal of an earlier ruling that denied Grayson bail. The court emphasized that Illinois' SAFE-T Act mandates pretrial release unless there is substantial evidence the defendant poses a danger or flight risk. Grayson’s release conditions include a GPS monitoring requirement, with a date for his release expected soon after administrative processing​.
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This case will proceed with Grayson awaiting trial outside of custody. The court's decision has sparked reactions from Massey’s family, who continue to seek justice, and raises ongoing debates about the implications of the SAFE-T Act in Illinois​.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wandtv.com/news/state-police-investigating-deputy-involved-shooting-in-springfield/article_fc197a4c-3c64-11ef-bdb6-17777aa64bfa.html
https://www.wcia.com/top-stories/coroner-identifies-springfield-woman-killed-in-deputy-involved-shooting/
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/protesters-demand-answers-after-sangamon-county-deputy-fatally-shoots-woman
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Grayson got his job by referral from his future father-in-law:
https://www.wcia.com/news/local-news/deputy-who-killed-sonya-massey-had-job-reference-from-fiances-dad-a-longtime-sheriffs-deputy/
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Much detailed information of past employment issues of Sean Grayson and his audio-recorded responses during lengthy disciplinary hearings by past LEO employer:
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/graysons-behavior-in-logan-county-led-superior-to-ask-how-are-you-still-employed-with-us
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Full bodycam video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSN0cqzl__4
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https://ca.news.yahoo.com/illinois-woman-dies-being-shot-215851249.html
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https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/local/2024/07/11/what-we-still-dont-know-in-fatal-shooting-of-illinois-woman-by-deputies/74364549007/
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Protests:
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/crime/2024/07/12/protestors-demand-answers-after-sonya-massey-killed-by-springfield-area-deputies/74371388007/
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Ben Crump is hired:
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/attorney-ben-crump-retained-by-family-of-sonya-massey
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Deputy Grayson is fired and indicted for murder:
https://fox2now.com/news/illinois/deputy-indicted-for-murder-of-sonya-massey-fired-by-sangamon-co-sheriff/
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Deputy Grayson held without bail, judge very openly critical:
https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2024-07-18/illinois-sheriffs-deputy-charged-with-murder-in-fatal-shooting-of-woman-who-called-911
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Pretrial release ordered in 11/2024:
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/nation-world/illinois-court-orders-pretrial-release-for-deputy-charged-in-sonya-masseys-killing/article_03d7ae2f-8c2a-5c7b-8e5a-012da55174c5.html
https://www.nprillinois.org/2024/11/27/illinois-court-orders-release-knox-county-deputy-case-sonya-massey