'Stop the killings': Vigils honor Sonya Massey as calls for justice grow

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. − Vigils were planned across the nation Sunday in remembrance of Sonya Massey, a Black woman whose fatal shooting by a white sheriff's deputy in her Illinois home has drawn national outrage − and an effort by his union to get his job back.

Controversy surrounding the shooting intensified after the release last week of body camera video that captured the gruesome July 6 incident. Activists have declared Sunday a National Day of Mourning for Massey, and gatherings are planned in New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Massey's home of Springfield and other locations.

Hundreds rallied over the weekend in Chicago, Brooklyn and other cities. At a Chicago "Justice for Sonya Massey" rally Saturday in Federal Plaza, Black Lives Matter organizer Troy Gatson told ABC 7's Eyewitness News residents came together "to hear the voices of the community, so we can push back to stop the killings."

On July 17, Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean P. Grayson was fired and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct in Massey's death. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond.

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police has filed a grievance saying he was fired "without just cause" and seeks his reinstatement, payment of lost wages and benefits and "any other appropriate relief."

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Massey family lawyer Ben Crump said Massey had an encounter with police over a mental health issue the day before the shooting. Crump said Massey had driven herself to HSHS St. John's Hospital seeking help but had returned home later that day.

An autopsy revealed she was killed by a bullet that entered under her left eye. "She needed a helping hand, not a bullet to the face," Crump said.

Why was Sonya Massey shot?

Three weeks ago Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two, called 911 to report a possible intruder in her home. Bodycam video from the scene shows Grayson and another responding deputy speaking calmly with Massey outside the home. They enter the residence and continue speaking with Massey, asking for her identification card. Grayson saw a pot of water boiling and told Massey to move it to avoid a fire. She moves it as the deputies move away, and she asks where they are going.

"Away from your hot steaming water,” Grayson says, to which Massey responds: "Away from the hot steaming water? Oh, I’ll rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

"You better ... not or I swear to God I’ll ... shoot you in the ... face," Grayson says, then takes out his gun.

Massey ducks and says, “I’m sorry," as the deputies yell at her to drop the pot. Three three gunshots are heard.

Grayson is then heard calling for EMS and the other deputy says "I’m gonna go get my kit."

"She’s done. You can go get it, but that’s a headshot," Grayson responds.

Who is Sean Grayson?

Grayson, 30, served in the Army from 2014 to 2016. According to his personnel file and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board , Grayson worked for four different police departments part time before he began working for the Auburn, Illinois, police department in July 2021. He later worked as a deputy in Logan County before joining the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in May 2023.

He has twice pleaded guilty to driving under the influence charges, one while in the U.S. Army, records show. A sheet from his personnel file, obtained by The State Journal-Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, through a Freedom of Information Act request, listed "misconduct (serious offense)" as his reason for separation from the Army on Feb. 27, 2016.

Grayson's former sergeant, in writing a recommendation letter for him for the Auburn Police Department , noted that "aside from Mr. Grayson's DUI, there were no other issues that he had during his tenure in the U.S. Army."

Jeff Wilhite, a spokesman for Sangamon County, said the sheriff's office knew about both DUIs.

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Stop the killings': Vigils honor Sonya Massey as calls for justice grow