Sonya Massey Homicide Sparks National Outrage

The death of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman shot by Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson, has been ruled a homicide, leading to national outrage and calls for police reform. Massey was shot in the head by Grayson while holding a pot of boiling water in her Springfield, Illinois home after calling 911 to report a possible intruder. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Massey’s family, condemned the shooting as senseless and excessive, comparing its impact to the killings of Emmett Till, Laquan McDonald, and George Floyd. Deputy Grayson, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and aggravated battery, had a troubled employment history with multiple law enforcement agencies and a past DUI conviction. Vigils and rallies are being organized nationwide to mourn Massey, with prominent figures like Rev. Al Sharpton participating. The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly assessing the circumstances surrounding her death.