SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — An Illinois sheriff's deputy charged with the murder of a woman in Springfield has two prior drunk driving charges in Macoupin County.
Sean Grayson was charged with the murder of Sonya Massey, 36, who was killed at her home after deputies responded to her 911 call about a possible prowler on July 6.
Grayson was arraigned Thursday on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. A judge granted a request from prosecutors that he be denied pretrial release.
Sheriff Jack Campbell with the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department said Grayson had been fired.
A probable cause statement said Grayson, while standing in the living room, noticed a pot of hot water on the stove in the kitchen, which was separated from the living room by a counter. He told Massey she could remove it to prevent an accidental fire. Massey then sat the pot down on the kitchen counter.
Documents said Grayson then drew his gun and threatened to shoot Massey in the face; Massey put her hands in the air, declared “I'm sorry” and ducked for cover behind the counter before Grayson "closed the significant gap" between himself and Massey and fired three shots at her, striking her once in the face.
Grayson also discouraged the other deputy from getting his medical kit, prosecutors said.
“The other deputy still rendered aid and stayed with Ms. Massey until medical help arrived,” First Assistant State's Attorney Mary Rodgers wrote. Grayson “at no time attempted to render aid to Ms. Massey.”
An independent investigator with the Illinois State Police "concluded that (Grayson) was NOT justified in his use of deadly force. He likened the scenario to an officer intentionally and unnecessarily putting himself in front of a moving vehicle and then justifying use of force because of fear of being struck," charging documents said.
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Court records showed that Grayson was previously charged twice, once in 2015 and once in 2016, with driving under the influence of alcohol in Macoupin County. He pleaded guilty to the 2015 charge and a judge found him guilty of the 2016 charge, records showed.
According to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, Grayson worked at six different law enforcement agencies in Illinois since 2020.
He previously worked part-time at the Pawnee, Kincaid and Virden police departments and full-time at the Auburn Police Department and Logan County Sheriff's Office prior to joining Sangamon County in May 2023.
Ben Crump, an attorney for Massey's family, said the charges were a “step toward justice for Sonya’s loved ones, especially her children, who have endured unimaginable pain and suffering since they were notified of this tragedy.”
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As many as 200 people gathered Wednesday at the Springfield NAACP building to express support for Massey and her family.
"I am enraged that another innocent Black woman had her life taken from her at the hands of a police officer," Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said after the indictment.
Grayson did not turn his body camera on until after the shooting, documents said. The other deputy who was in the house at the time of the shooting had his body camera on during the entire incident.
Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said that Massey's family met with prosecutors and Illinois State Police Wednesday and viewed the body camera footage. Milhiser said the footage will be publicly released on Monday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.