Deputy Who Killed Sonya Massey Claimed He Thought She Intended to Kill Him

Mar. 15, 2025

Sonya Massey.Photo:Facebook

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The Illinois sheriff’s deputy who shot and killedSonya Masseyclaimed he thought he was in danger during the fatal encounter, according to a deputy’s field report released on Monday, Aug. 5.

Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office deputy, was charged with first-degree murder after he shot Massey, who was unarmed and had called 911 on July 6, fearing there was an intruder in her home.

The entire incident was captured on a body camera. Right before she was shot, Massey had gotten up to remove a pot of hot water from the stove and said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

Sean Grayson.Sangamon County Jail

Sangamon County Jail

“I interpreted this to mean she was going to kill me,” Grayson wrote. “I drew my weapon and pointed it at Sonya.”

Grayson wrote that he felt “imminent fear” that Massey was going to throw the pot of boiling liquid at him when he fired the shot.

After Massey’s death, PresidentJoe Biden saidshe “should be alive today,” and that he was “heartbroken.”

“Sonya’s death at the hands of a responding officer reminds us that all too often Black Americans face fears for their safety in ways many of the rest of us do not,” Biden added.

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Massey’s family has since hired prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

Raymond Massey, Sonya’s uncle,spoke to PEOPLEand said his niece was a “loving and caring” mother of two teenage children.

“It’s burning so deep,” Massey said. “Every family member is going through that right now. But the kids, you have to say that’s twofold.”

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source: people.com