Shooting of Sonya Massey

Body camera footage released from July 6 shows former Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson shooting 36-year-old Sonya Massey in her home after she called 911 for help regarding a suspected prowler. Grayson, who has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and official misconduct, threatened to shoot Massey after a brief exchange about a pot of boiling water she was handling. As the situation escalated, Massey ducked and apologized, saying, 'I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,' before Grayson fired three shots, fatally wounding her in the face. The chaotic scene depicts a mixture of confusion and tension, with Grayson later claiming Massey came at him with boiling water. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has likened the incident to other high-profile cases of police violence, emphasizing its shocking nature. The footage has sparked outrage and renewed calls for accountability in law enforcement actions against marginalized communities.