Sonya Massey, the Illinois woman fatally shot by a deputy while responding to her 911 call, died by homicide due to a gunshot wound to her head, according to an autopsy report released Friday by the Sangamon County coroner.
Though the autopsy report did not state the manner of death, Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon confirmed it was homicide.
“The cause of death; gunshot wound of the head. The manner of death; Homicide,” Allmon told ABC News in a statement.
The bullet that killed Massey, 36, entered at the lower eyelid of her left eye and exited through the posterior left surface of her upper neck, according to the autopsy report.
Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy who shot Massey, was fired and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct in Massey’s death. He pleaded not guilty.
Massey and a second, unnamed deputy responded to Massey’s 911 call reporting a possible intruder at her Springfield home on July 6.
Former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson was discharged from the army for serious misconduct, according to documents. Credit: Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office
Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office
Body camera footage released Monday shows Grayson, 30, yelling at Massey to put down a pot of boiling water.
The footage, reviewed by ABC News, shows Massey telling the two responding deputies, “Please, don’t hurt me,” once she answered their knocks on her door.
Grayson responded, “I don’t want to hurt you, you called us.”
Later in the video, while inside Massey’s home as she searches for her ID, Grayson points out a pot of boiling water on her stove and says, “We don’t need a fire while we’re in here.”
Massey then pours the water into the sink and tells the deputy, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
Grayson threatens to shoot her, according to the video, and Massey apologizes and ducks down behind a counter, covering her face with what appears to be a red oven mitt. She briefly rises, and Grayson shoots her three times in the face, the footage shows.
Sonya Massey was fatally shot by former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson on July 6, 2024.
Courtesy Ben Crump
The footage is from the point of view of Grayson’s partner, because Grayson did not turn on his own body camera until after the shooting, according to court documents.
A review by Illinois State Police found Grayson was not justified in his use of deadly force.
Grayson was discharged from the U.S. Army for “misconduct (serious offense),” according to documents obtained by ABC News.
ABC News has also learned that Grayson was charged with two DUI offenses in Macoupin County, Illinois, in August 2015 and July 2016, according to court documents.
Grayson’s attorney, Dan Fultz, declined to comment.
The news of his discharge and DUI offenses come days after it was revealed through Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board records obtained by ABC News that Grayson worked for six law enforcement agencies over the last four years.
On the evening of June 15th, tragedy struck in a quiet neighborhood as Sonya Massey lost her life in a police-involved shooting at her own home. The incident has left the community in shock and raised questions about the use of force by law enforcement.
An autopsy report has revealed that Massey died from a gunshot wound to the head. The details surrounding the shooting are still unclear, but it is known that police were responding to a domestic disturbance call at Massey’s residence. The situation escalated quickly, leading to the fatal outcome.
The news of Massey’s death has sparked outrage and calls for justice from her family and friends. They are demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting and accountability for those involved.
The use of deadly force by police officers is a controversial topic that has been the subject of much debate in recent years. Incidents like this one only serve to further fuel the conversation about police brutality and the need for reform within law enforcement agencies.
As the investigation into Sonya Massey’s death continues, it is important for authorities to be transparent and forthcoming with information. The community deserves to know the truth about what happened that fateful night and what steps will be taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
In the meantime, friends and loved ones of Sonya Massey are left to grieve and mourn the loss of a beloved member of their community. They are calling for justice and accountability, hoping that her death will not be in vain and will lead to positive change in how law enforcement interacts with the public.
As more details emerge about the circumstances surrounding Sonya Massey’s death, it is crucial for the community to come together in support of her family and in solidarity against police violence. Only by working together can we hope to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
