Police called fatal Sonya Massey shooting ‘self-inflicted’ despite deputy’s shots: audio

The deadly shooting of Sonya Massey by an Illinois cop now charged with her murder was initially called in as being “self-inflicted,” newly released audio shows.

Shocking footage released earlier this week showed how Massey, 36, was shot three times after apologizing to officers and ducking down out of their way after one threatened to shoot her “in the f–king face” as she held a pot of boiling water.

Bodycam footage released by Illinois State Police also captured a dispatcher asking the responding Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies: “Just to confirm: self-inflicted?”

“Self-inflicted,” an unidentified voice then answered a few moments later.

However, the video clearly showed Deputy Sean Grayson, 30, shooting her in her home after she apologized and ducked out of his way. He has since been fired and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.

Grayson had also asked if Massey — who had earlier told the deputies she was just “trying to get help” — had “any call history for being 10-96,” the police code for a mentally ill individual, the footage shows.

Massey’s family members claimed that police also told them she had died by suicide.

Records show deputy charged in Sonya Massey’s fatal shooting worked for 6 agencies in 4 years

Jimmy Crawford Jr., the father of Massey’s daughter, said at a press conference that the hospital staff were told that Massey had taken her own life.

Massey’s son, Malachi Hill Massey, 17, claimed he was told that his mom “had been shot in the eye and it came out her neck,” but was told who did it.

“They didn’t tell me who,” Malachi Hill Massey, 17, said Tuesday. “They were just saying [it was] ‘somebody.’”

Grayson was fired after the incident and indicted on July 17 on first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct charges. He has pleaded not guilty.

The deputy has had a checkered career, and had worked for six different police agencies in four years, records show. Between 2020 and 2024, the 30-year-old worked part-time jobs at three different police departments, a full-time job at a fourth police department, and two full-time positions at two different sheriff’s offices.

Massey had called the cops after she heard what she thought to be a prowler banging on the sides of her home. Bodycam footage shows Grayson and his partner attempting to focus Massey, who had a history of mental health issues and appeared confused, on finding her ID.

Bodycam video reveals chaotic scene of deputy fatally shooting Sonya Massey, who called 911 for help

Moments later, Grayson tells her to turn off the stove which was boiling a pot of water.

“We don’t need a fire while we’re here,” he said.

Massey removed the pot from the stove and was walking towards the sink when she said “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

The encounter escalated quickly, with Grayson yelling “You better f–king not or I swear to God I’ll f–king shoot you in your f–king face.”

Massey ducked down slightly and apologized.

Grayson then yelled “Drop the f–king pot” before firing three rounds at Massey, fatally connecting with her once below her eye.

Grayson can then be heard trying to discourage his partner from getting a medical kit to treat Massey’s wound.

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“I’m gonna go get my kit,” Grayson’s partner, who has not been identified, said.

“Eh, she’s done,” he replied, “You can go get it, but that’s a headshot… there’s nothing we can do, man.”

“What else could we do? I’m not taking hot, boiling water to the f–king face,” Grayson said later.

When additional police officers arrived on the scene one asked “where’s the gun?”

“No, no—she came at me with boiling water,” Grayson answered.

Sagamon County Sherriff Jack Campbell called Grayson’s actions “unjustifiable and reckless” in a statement.

“Grayson had other options available that he should have used. His actions were inexcusable and do not reflect the values or training of our office,” he said.

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden released a statement calling Massey’s killing an “unthinkable and senseless loss.”

“[Massey] needed a helping hand. She did not need a bullet to her face,” family attorney Crump said.

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