When Sonya Massey, 36, called police on July 6 to report a possible intruder in her Springfield, Ill. home, she was expecting help from the officers sent to protect her. Instead, Massey’s fate was allegedly sealed by those same officers.
In response to Massey’s July 6 911 call, two deputies were sent to her house. After searching the area, the deputies reported gunfire around 1:21 a.m., saying a woman had been hit. “The deputies immediately administered first aid until EMS arrived,” the press release stated.
However, a petition from prosecutors suggests that Grayson did not render aid to Massey and discouraged his partner from doing so, according to NBC News. Massey was pronounced dead after being taken to St. John’s Hospital.
According to a court document obtained by CNN, a dispute over a pot of hot water between Massey and the deputies led to Deputy Sean Grayson, 30, drawing and shooting his gun three times at Massey, hitting her once in the head. The document also alleges at some point during the dispute, Massey apologized with her hands up.
An state-led investigation into the July 6 incident did “not support a finding that…Grayson was justified in his use of deadly force,” said John Milhiser, the state’s attorney for the county. Grayson was terminated and officially indicted on charges including first-degree murder, aggravated battery with firearm, and official misconduct.
A Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office press release stated “it is clear that the deputy did not act as trained or in accordance with our standards.”
The statement went on to say Grayson’s actions were not a reflection of law enforcement. It continued: “Good law enforcement officers stand with our community in condemning actions that undermine the trust and safety we strive to uphold. In times like these, it is crucial for leadership across all sides and spectrums to come together to heal our community.”
Body camera footage from the incident is scheduled to be released in full to the public on July 22.
A funeral service for Massey, a single mother of two, is also scheduled for July 19, according to the Illinois Times. Following Massey’s killing, several protests have erupted across the country. Black Lives Matter protesters are calling for transparency from law enforcement and policy change after Massey’s murder.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker spoke out saying “My heart breaks for Sonya’s children, for her family and friends and for all who knew and loved her, and I am enraged that another innocent black woman had her life taken from her at the hands of a police officer.”
Following the media attention, Ben Crump, the well-known civil rights attorney, is said to be representing Massey’s family. Grayson has pleaded not guilty on all charges.