by Vee Hua 華婷婷
A 30-year-old Illinois deputy, Sean Grayson, has been fired from his job and indicted by a grand jury for first-degree murder after he shot and killed Sonya Massey, a Black woman and mother of two, inside her home. Grayson has also been charged with aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty and has been denied pretrial release.
The news of Massey's death made international headlines on Monday after Illinois State Police released a 36-minute bodycam video from the second deputy. The video, which is unredacted, shows the circumstances of the shooting. Former deputy Grayson, who is white, did not turn on his body cam until after Massey's death.
On July 6, 36-year-old Massey — whom her daughter has confirmed was paranoid-schizophrenic — had called 911 over concerns of a potential intruder. Two officers responded to her home around 1 a.m., and rather than knocking on Massey's door, looked into her home with flashlights, according to a neighbor. Grayson and his partner soon entered Massey's home, where the altercation took place.
The officers asked Massey about her mental health condition, and she responded, "Yes, I took my medicine." When they requested her driver's license, she said, "I love y'all," but had a difficult time locating it as she searched through her belongings.
Shortly after, Grayson saw a pot of boiling water on her stove and asked Massey to remove it so as to avoid a fire. As she moved toward the stove, both officers distanced themselves from her; in response, she asked, "Where you going?"
Grayson responded, "Away from your hot steaming water," to which Massey responded, "Away from the hot steaming water?" She then said twice, "I'll rebuke you in the name of Jesus."
"You better fucking not. I swear to God, I'll fucking shoot you right in your fucking face," Grayson answered, with his gun drawn. Grayson then closed the distance between himself and Massey, who can be heard saying "I'm sorry," as she cowered with her hands up.
Both officers then called for Massey to drop her pot. When she did not immediately do so, Grayson shot her three times point-blank. When his partner said he was going to grab a medical kit to render aid, Grayson replied, "You can go get it, but that's a headshot. … There's nothing you can do, man."
His partner still attempted to render aid despite Grayson's initial discouragement. At one point on the video, he can be heard saying, "She's still gasping," and that they could at least attempt to stop her bleeding. Grayson at no point attempted to render aid.
Massey is survived by her two teenage children. In reporting from The Guardian, Massey's neighbor, Cheryl Evans, called her "such a nice girl." She then continued, "I kicked myself for not asking [the police] what they were trying to do over there. … She was just scared and asked for help, and they killed her."
In a statement released on Monday, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell said, "The Body Worn Camera footage has now been released, and the public can see what we saw: Sonya Massey lost her life due to an unjustifiable and reckless decision by former Deputy Sean Grayson. Grayson had other options available that he should have used. His actions were inexcusable and do not reflect the values or training of our office."
Notable civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who also represented the family of George Floyd and other families in similar high-profile cases, is representing Massey's family. On Monday, during a press conference with the family, Crump said Massey was not acting aggressively toward the officer despite her mental health challenges. "She needed a helping hand," he said. "She didn't need a bullet to the face."
Remembering his daughter, Massey's father, James Wilburn, stated, "Sonya was a daddy's girl. She never ended a conversation — whether by text or telephone or in person — without saying, 'Daddy, I love you.' And that's the last message I have from my daughter that's saved on my voicemail, was 'Daddy, I love you.'"
While still recovering from COVID-19 in his Delaware home, President Joe Biden released a statement on Monday, calling Massey "a beloved mother, friend, daughter and young Black woman" who "should be alive today." He continued, "When we call for help, all of us as Americans — regardless of who we are or where we live — should be able to do so without fearing for our lives. … Sonya's family deserves justice."
Biden then called for Congress to pass HR 1280, also known as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The bill increases accountability in policing, with changes around a range of issues, such as the use of excessive force and racial bias. The House passed the bill in 2021, but it stalled in the Senate.
Reporting from CNN, featuring help from law enforcement analysts, looks step-by-step at the bodycam footage and offers commentary on a number of ways in which the officers' actions could have been improved.
On July 24, Campbell explained Grayson's firing, saying he "did not act as trained or in accordance with our standards. … With our badge we accept enormous responsibility, and if that responsibility is abused, there should be consequences."
Crump released a statement following the grand jury's indictments, saying, "While nothing can undo the heinous actions of this officer, we hope the scales of justice will continue to hold him accountable, and we will demand transparency at every step. This news is a step toward justice for Sonya's loved ones, especially her children, who have endured unimaginable pain and suffering since they were notified of this tragedy. We remain committed to uncovering the truth of what happened and identifying the failures that allowed this tragic death to occur."
Massey's father, Wilburn, shared in an interview with CBS Mornings that the family was not initially told that Massey was killed during an interaction with law enforcement. Despite admitting that the bodycam footage was the "most horrible, heart-wrenching thing that we've ever seen in our lives," he was thankful that it ensured transparency and dissuaded rumors that her death was self-inflicted. As Wilburn explained, "We were under the impression that she was killed by the intruder, or some other person from the street, and they just went in there and found her dead body."
Crump stated that the shooting was one of the worst ever in the history of police accountability. Analyzing the footage and Grayson's actions, he said, "He actually walks around the counter and engages to get a better shot and that's what the state attorney's investigation found. … He could have done so many things to not shoot her in the face. He could have backed up. He could have used a Taser."
Grayson has had a difficult history in policing. According to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, Grayson had worked at six law enforcement agencies in Illinois since 2020. His reasons for moving around to different departments are not yet apparent. He has also received criticism from Massey's family for being charged with two separate DUIs, in 2015 and 2016. He pleaded guilty to both and paid the related fines, though DUIs do not automatically disqualify potential officers from employment in Illinois.
The City of Seattle's Summer Food Service Program was established in the 1960s to help provide nutritious meals to youth. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are offered at 60 sites throughout the city until Aug. 23. They are sponsored by the City of Seattle's Human Services Department (HSD).
Some families may also be eligible for SUN Bucks benefits, which can be used to buy groceries all summer through a nutrition benefits card. Qualifying families will receive $120 per child in SUN Bucks, which expire 122 days after they are issued.
All participating sites of the Summer Food Service Program can be located via an interactive local map or statewide map. Text the word "Food" for English or "Comida" for Spanish to 304-304 to enter your ZIP code and get a list of nearby sites, or call the U.S. Department of Agriculture Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) for English or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) for Spanish.
Just before Memorial Day weekend, the Seattle Public Library (SPL) experienced a cyberattack that greatly affected patron offerings, including physical book and media returns, Wi-Fi access, and other online services, such as e-books and audiobooks. The ransomware attack continues to affect a number of library offerings, though many have now been restored. Notably, during the recent heat wave, Wi-Fi access was once again made available.
SPL has announced it expects full services to return within four to six weeks. An updated list of restored services can be found on its website, and includes:
Vee Hua 華婷婷 (they/them) is a writer, filmmaker, and organizer with semi-nomadic tendencies. Much of their work unifies their metaphysical interests with their belief that art can positively transform the self and society. They are the editor-in-chief of REDEFINE, a long-time member of the Seattle Arts Commission, and a film educator at the interdisciplinary community hub, Northwest Film Forum, where they previously served as executive director and played a key role in making the space more welcoming and accessible for diverse audiences. After a recent stint as the interim managing editor at South Seattle Emerald, they are moving into production on their feature film, Reckless Spirits, which is a metaphysical, multilingual POC buddy comedy. They have a master's in Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship under the American Indian Studies Department at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
📸 Featured Image: In this image taken from body camera video released by Illinois State Police, Sonya Massey, left, talks with former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson outside her home in Springfield, Ilinois, July 6, 2024. Footage released Monday, July 22, by a prosecutor reveals a chaotic scene in which Massey, who called 911 for help, is shot in the face in her home by Grayson. (Illinois State Police via AP)
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