‘Blood on the hands’ of system, ex-deputy: Massey family lawyer

( NewsNation ) — Attorney Ben Crump and the family of Illinois woman Sonya Massey, who was fatally shot by a former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy after calling 911 for help, pushed for legislative change at a Wednesday press conference.

“At this time, that legislation that we talk about is something that’s going to be important because it will not just affect Sonya Massey’s family, but it would affect all the citizens,” Crump told reporters.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act , which has been stalled at the federal level, is one bill the family wants lawmakers to reconsider.

Named after a Black man murdered in 2020 by a white Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on his neck for more than 9 minutes, the bill was first introduced by former Rep. Karen Bass , D-Calif., now mayor of Los Angeles, The Hill writes.

President Joe Biden, in 2022, signed an executive order to advance the police reform bill after it was blocked by Senate Republicans. It would create a national registry to compile data on complaints and records of police misconduct, among other provisions.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is currently “sitting in purgatory at the United States Congress while we continue to see innocent American citizens killed unjustly,” Crump said. However, he added, “That doesn’t mean we don’t continue to make sure that we get progress at any step we can.”

NewsNation local affiliate WGN reports Sonya Massey’s killing by ex-deputy Sean Grayson, as well as his ability to jump around between agencies despite past DUI convictions and getting kicked out of the military, sparked calls for change across the United States.

Crump and another attorney, Antonio Romanucci, seek changes to a current state law known as the “ SAFE-T Act .” While the Illinois legislation requires a publicly available database for any police misconduct that results in decertification, Romanucci said they want it to be “much more comprehensive” and include infractions such as DUIs. Romanucci said they want a waiting period when law enforcement goes between jobs as well as more thorough and comprehensive background checks.

“Our family is truly hurt by the conditions that were caused by the systematic dangers and red flags that were attributable to Sean Grayson,” Sonya Massey’s father, James Wilburn, said at Wednesday’s press conference. “We need to see a complete change of the system that allowed Sean Grayson to kill my daughter.”

“The blood is on the hands of the system as well as Sean Grayson,” Crump said. “And so we can do better. We must do better.”

Authorities said on July 6, Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, called 911 to report a suspected prowler at her Springfield residence. Body camera video released on July 22 shows Grayson, who is white, yelling across a kitchen counter in Massey’s home, telling her to set down a pot of hot water. After Grayson threatened to shoot her, Massey, who was unarmed, ducked and briefly rose. When she picked up the pan again, Grayson fired his 9 mm pistol three times, hitting Massey just below the eye.

Grayson was fired, arrested and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty.

In the wake of the shooting, Illinois leaders, including Gov. JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton , urged Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell to resign, which he announced Friday he plans to do by Aug. 31.

“It has become clear that the current political climate has made it nearly impossible for me to continue effectively in my role,” Campbell wrote in a statement, according to NewsNation local affiliate WCIA. “Some individuals would rather see our community divided and in turmoil than allow me to continue serving as sheriff. The health of me and my family, the Sheriff’s Office, and our community has to be my priority.”

While Raymond Massey, Sonya Massey’s uncle, said he’s “very pleased” the sheriff resigned, like others at the conference, he emphasized that he thinks his niece was failed by multiple systems and people.

“I think that by the sheriff stepping down, it’s a great first step,” Raymond Massey said. “The sheriff did commit to helping us. I would like to know what justice looks like for him. We are going to hold him accountable since he made that statement to the family because we’re going through a hard time right now.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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