Sean Grayson — the Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy charged with homicide after he shot Sonya Massey in her condo whereas she wielded solely a pot of water — labored six regulation enforcement jobs over the previous 4 years, pleaded responsible to 2 expenses of driving beneath the affect, and was discharged from the Military for “serious misconduct.”
Now Massey’s household desires solutions on how Sangamon County got here to rent him and put a gun in his fingers.
Grayson, 30, was indicted on three counts of first-degree homicide by a grand jury on July 17. He and one other Sangamon County deputy responded to Massey’s house after she known as a couple of potential intruder. The native district legal professional’s workplace launched a 36-minute physique digicam video on Monday that confirmed Massey, a Black lady, unarmed and ducking for canopy moments earlier than Grayson shot her within the head.
Massey’s household says Grayson mustn’t have been working for the division attributable to his previous. “There were all these red flags, and yet they still made him a deputy in this county,” James Wilburn, Massey’s father, stated at her funeral.
Grayson labored part-time with the Pawnee Police Division from Aug. 11, 2020 to July 26, 2021, after which took one other part-time job with the Kincaid Police Division from Feb. 4, 2021 to Might 18, 2021, in keeping with information from the Illinois Regulation Enforcement Coaching and Requirements Board.
Two days later, Grayson began part-time with the Virden Police Division on Might 20, 2021. Then, on July 20, 2021, he began working full-time with the Auburn Police Division. After leaving Virden in December and Auburn the next Might, Grayson labored full-time with the Logan County Sheriff’s Workplace starting in Might 2022. He left in April 2023 and began working with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Workplace in Might of that very same yr, information present.
Grayson had no prior documented use-of-force complaints whereas working for Sangamon County or different departments, the sheriff’s workplace informed HuffPost in an announcement.
He did, nevertheless, plead responsible to misdemeanor offenses for driving beneath the affect in 2015 and 2016, in keeping with on-line courtroom information.
The primary incident was on Aug. 15, 2015, when the Virden Police Division arrested Grayson for DUI and he pleaded responsible. He was charged with a DUI once more the subsequent yr in July after he was arrested by the Macoupin Sheriff’s Division, in keeping with charging paperwork obtained by HuffPost.
Grayson was additionally discharged from the Military for severe misconduct, in keeping with Illinois Public Media. IPM reported that Military officers declined to launch any particulars in regards to the misconduct, citing Protection Division coverage.
On July 6, Grayson and an unidentified deputy questioned Massey in her house, asking for her identification. When Massey went to the kitchen to show off a boiling pot of water, the opposite deputy moved again and stated he was shifting “away from your hot steaming water.”
From the kitchen, Massey responded: “I rebuke you, in the name of Jesus.”
Grayson, standing in the lounge, then escalated the encounter.
“You better fucking not, or I swear to God, I’ll shoot you in your motherfucking face,” Grayson informed Massey whereas placing his hand on his weapon.
He instantly drew the weapon, and Massey, nonetheless within the kitchen and away from the deputies, ducked and raised her fingers. “Ok, I’m sorry!” Massey stated to Grayson.
Grayson fired three photographs, killing her.
Massey’s killing sparked nationwide outrage. President Joe Biden expressed he was “heartbroken” for Massey’s youngsters and full household.
“Sonya Massey, a beloved mother, friend, daughter, and young Black woman, should be alive today. Sonya called the police because she was concerned about a potential intruder. 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,” Biden stated in an announcement on X.
“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.”
Massey’s father known as for Sheriff Jack Campbell’s resignation throughout a press convention on Tuesday.
“I will say again, I am calling for the sheriff’s resignation. Because I think it is a culture to treat this family this bad,” Wilburn stated.
“If it were not for this camera footage, we as a people, they would have lied their way right out of this. So he needs to resign.”
The sheriff’s workplace launched an announcement the day Grayson was indicted on homicide expenses and acknowledged that his actions that night time didn’t meet the requirements practiced on the division. He was moreover charged with official misconduct and aggravated assault with a firearm.
“First and foremost, my heart breaks for the family and friends of Sonya Massey. This is a tragic incident, and we mourn with them and the community,” the sheriff’s workplace stated in a July 17 assertion following the completion of the investigation.
“It is clear that the deputy did not act as trained or in accordance with our standards. Therefore, Sean Grayson’s employment with the Sheriff’s Office has been terminated.”
Grayson was taken into custody that very same day.
Sangamon County District Legal professional John Milhiser’s workplace stated it had decided that “the evidence did not support a finding that former Deputy Sean Grayson was justified in his use of deadly force, and the case was presented to a Sangamon County Grand Jury.”
Massey’s taking pictures sparked protests because the native group demanded police reform and justice for her demise. Grayson stays in custody with an arraignment listening to set for Aug. 26, in keeping with courtroom information.
