Sonya Massey to be honored with Friday services

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The family of Sonya Massey will be saying goodbye to her this weekend with a visitation and memorial service.

In a public obituary, family said funeral services will be held on Friday, starting with a visitation from 9 to 10 a.m. and a memorial service from 10 to 11 a.m. Massey will then be buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Massey, a mother of two, was shot and killed on July 6 while Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call from her to report a “prowler” near her home. The investigation into the officer-involved shooting revealed that Deputy Sean Grayson was not justified in using lethal force .

Since the incident, the Springfield community has been rallying for Massey , asking for justice. Demonstrators gathered outside the NAACP building Wednesday afternoon while Massey’s family viewed body camera footage inside. Outside, the demonstrators carried signs reading “Justice for Sonya Massey,” “Sonya Massey’s Life Matters,” and more.

Grayson is facing first-degree murder charges and has been fired from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. He made his first court appearance on Thursday .

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