Springfield, Illinois – A grand jury in Sangamon County indicted Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson, 30, on five counts following the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey in her home on July 6. The indictment includes three counts of first-degree murder, among other charges. Grayson, currently in custody, is set to appear in court for arraignment at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser announced the charges, revealing that a review of the Illinois State Police investigation, including body camera footage, did not support Grayson’s use of deadly force as justified. The incident unfolded after Grayson and another unnamed deputy responded to Massey’s home following a 911 call reporting a possible intruder.
Massey, a 36-year-old black woman, tragically died from a single gunshot wound. Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon confirmed the cause of death. Authorities have since terminated Grayson’s employment in the sheriff’s office.
In a show of support, approximately 200 demonstrators gathered at the Springfield NAACP building to demand justice for Massey and her family. Protests began earlier in the week with calls for the release of the bodycam footage. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Massey’s family, emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the investigation.
Various officials, including Governor J.B. Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, and Crump, expressed their outrage at Massey’s death and called for a thorough investigation to ensure accountability. The community awaits further developments as the quest for justice continues.