Sonya Massey’s family, attorney Ben Crump respond to police union

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( NewsNation ) — The family of Sonya Massey and its lawyer, Ben Crump, responded to the request made by the union representing Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies at a press conference Tuesday.

The union requested that Sean Grayson, a former deputy for the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in Springfield, Illinois, be reinstated and reimbursed his wages .

Rev. Al Sharpton was among the figures present at the media conference before a “Remembering Sonya Massey” ceremony at New Mount Pilgrim Church in Chicago.

Massey was fatally shot by Grayson in the early hours of July 6, approximately 30 minutes after Grayson and his partner arrived at her home following a distress call made by the late mother.

The grievance was filed July 18 by the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, but the same body later said it would not pursue Grayson’s reinstatement .

Massey, who had suffered mental health issues, appears confused and says, “Don’t hurt me.” Grayson responds at times condescendingly or impatiently.

In a sudden escalation captured on law enforcement officers’ body cameras, Grayson shot Massey three times, with one fatal blow to the head, as she worked with a boiling pot of water.

In the initial statement about the event , officials did not make it clear either that a deputy shot Massey. That piece of information was confirmed by county officials a couple of days later.

Grayson was fired from the department and has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.

Grayson was vetted and approved for hiring by Sangamon County in May 2023 despite two drunk-driving convictions , the first of which got him ejected from the Army for “serious misconduct,” and having six jobs in four years, including as a sheriff’s deputy in Logan County, where he was reprimanded for ignoring a command to end a high-speed chase and ended up hitting a deer.

Grayson has pleaded not guilty and is being held in the Sangamon County Jail without bond. If convicted, he faces prison sentences of 45 years to life for murder, six to 30 years for battery, and two to five years for misconduct.

NewsNation affiliate WCIA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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