Department of Justice official announcements

Sonya Massey Fatally Shot Three Times by Illinois Deputy on July 6, Charged with First-Degree Murder

Jul 23, 2024, 02:04 PM

Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, was fatally shot three times by Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson in her Springfield, Illinois home on July 6 after she called 911 to report a suspected prowler. The incident, captured on body-cam footage, shows Grayson shooting Massey in the face as she held a pot of boiling water. Grayson, who has two previous DUI convictions, has been fired, arrested, and charged with first-degree murder. The footage has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice, with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris expressing their heartbreak and demanding accountability. Massey's family, represented by attorney Ben Crump, is seeking justice, while the Department of Justice has announced an investigation into the incident.