Springfield-area deputy indicted; faces three murder charges in killing of Sonya Massey

A Sangamon County grand jury on Wednesday returned a five-count indictment against a Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy in the July 6 fatal shooting of Sonya Massey in her home following a 911 call reporting a possible intruder.

Sean Grayson, 30, faces three counts of first-degree murder, along with two other charges.

The announcement came from Sangamon County State's Attorney John Milhiser.

Grayson is in custody and will make a first court appearance at 2 p.m. on Thursday when he will be arraigned.

Milhiser said his office will file a petition to detain Grayson in accordance with the Pre-Trial Fairness Act.

A review of the Illinois State Police investigation, including body camera footage, "did not support a finding" that Grayson was justified in his use of deadly force, Milhiser stated.

The investigation was turned over to the State Police, said Sheriff Jack Campbell, after he was notified on July 6.

Grayson and another deputy, who has not been named, were dispatched to Massey's home in the 2800 block of Hoover Avenue, in an unincorporated area of Woodside Township, around 12:50 a.m. on July 6.

The deputies reported that shots had been fired at approximately 1:21 a.m.

The 36-year-old Massey, who was Black, died of a single gunshot wound, according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon.

Milhiser said Massey's family members reviewed the body cam footage with prosecutors and State Police. They also went over the facts of the case.

Milhiser said in consultation with the family that footage will be released to the public Monday morning.

The indictment came on a day when about 200 or so supporters gathered Wednesday at the Springfield NAACP building in support of Massey and her family.

Protests first started Friday in front of the Sangamon County building with calls for release of the body cam footage and justice for Massey's family.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced last week that he had been retained by Massey's family.

Two representatives from Crump's office were in Springfield on Wednesday.

Sunshine Clemons, the co-founder of Black Lives Matter Springfield, said she was glad that Massey's family Wednesday "got some of the answers it was looking for" and that Grayson was indicted.

Clemons said she hoped Milhiser would move "swiftly through this process and get this family justice."

In a statement, Campbell called Massey's death "a tragic incident."

Campbell added that it was clear that Grayson "did not act as trained or in accordance with our standards."

Campbell verified that Grayson's employment in the sheriff's office had been terminated.

Sangamon County Board Chair Andy Van Meter, in a release, said Massey’s murder was a tragedy that reverberated in multiple ways. 

"We are powerless to right this wrong, but we can seek justice for the victim and for the community," Van Meter said. "I have the highest degree of confidence that Sheriff Jack Campbell and State’s Attorney John Milhiser will do their utmost to achieve the community’s collective will that justice be done. 

"We must not let the tragic decision of one individual besmirch our highly trained and dedicated law enforcement officers."

'A justice thing'

Tiara Standage, the leader of a Springfield nonprofit agency and the organizer of the protests, said threats and talk of violence around the area hasn't come from supporters she's helped bring together and that the group's gatherings have been peaceful.

"I feel like it's the other side creating fear in our communities and turning people against each other when there's white people, there's Black people (out here)," she said earlier Wednesday. "There's all kinds of people protesting for the justice of Sonya Massey. It's not a race thing, it's not a gender thing, it's not a sexual orientation thing. It's a justice thing."

Speaking at the gathering and before the indictment was announced, Vanessa Knox said she was repulsed by how long the Massey family had to wait.

"How would you feel, not knowing how they suffered or who was there or what happened?" Knox said. "It's a sickening thought."

Carrying a "Justice 4 Sonya Massey" sign, Danelle Lester said earlier Wednesday she understood why some people might now be reticent to call police about certain situations.

"There have been plenty of times you may be in danger and just don't want to call for assistance because things might get turned around," Lester admitted.

Reaction from Pritzker, Stratton, Budzinski, Crump

Gov. JB Pritzker in a statement said he was grateful to Milhiser for bringing "the appropriate charges in this case."

“Sonya Massey was concerned for her safety and called law enforcement to her home for protection," Pritzker said. "Like all Illinoisans, she deserved that protection. Instead, innocent and unarmed, she was gunned down by an officer of the law. My heart breaks for Sonya’s children, for her family and friends and for all who knew and loved her, and I am enraged that another innocent black woman had her life taken from her at the hands of a police officer."

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, via X, said Massey's final moments "are another haunting demonstration of a system that failed to protect and serve. The emotions--pain, anger and fear--washing over our community are both valid and understandable."

U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, said she expected "full and appropriate accountability to be ensured by our justice system.

"Like too many Black men and women, Sonya Massey's life was taken by an officer who swore an oath to serve and protect her."

Crump said Wednesday was a milestone in the pursuit of justice for Massey’s family, which has "endured unimaginable pain and suffering.

"We hope the scales of justice will continue to hold (Grayson) accountable and we will demand transparency at every step," Crump added. "We remain committed to uncovering the truth of what happened and identifying the failures that allowed this tragic death to occur.”

This story will be updated.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.