(HorizonPost.com) – The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office on Monday announced that it had released the body-worn camera footage from the July 6 shooting death of Springfield resident Sonya Massey by Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson.
An Illinois grand jury on July 19 indicted 30-year-old Grayson with first-degree murder for shooting Massey in the face during a heated exchange involving a pot of water. Grayson, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, allegedly discouraged his partner from attempting to render assistance after the shooting.
The body-cam footage confirmed the account given by prosecutors about the moment when Deputy Grayson shouted at Massey to put down the pot containing hot water. When Grayson threatened to fire, Massey ducked and then briefly rose before Grayson shot her.
According to prosecutors, the 36-year-old Massey called 911 to report a possible prowler. The video footage shows Grayson and his partner responding to her Springfield home just before 1:00 a.m. on July 6. The deputies walk around the exterior of the house and find a black SUV in the driveway with its windows broken.
When deputies knocked on the door, it took Massey about three minutes to open the door. When she did, she immediately told the deputies not to hurt her.
While speaking with the deputies at the door, Massey appeared to be confused, referencing God and telling them that she did not know who owned the SUV.
After coming inside the house, the deputies appeared to grow frustrated with Massey as she sat on her couch hunting through her purse for identification so they could write up a report before leaving her home.
Deputy Grayson noted the pot sitting over a lit burner on the stove and suggested that they didn’t “need a fire” while they were there.
Massey went to the kitchen and moved the pot to the sink. She and Grayson were sharing a laugh about her pot of hot water when Massey suddenly said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
It was at this point that Grayson drew his firearm and ordered her to put down the pot.
The body-cam footage shows the exchange and the subsequent shooting. It also confirmed that Grayson discouraged his partner from getting the medical kit to provide aid, telling him that there was nothing they could do since it was “a headshot.”
Grayson was dismissed from the sheriff’s office last week and is currently being held without bond in the Sangamon County Jail. In addition to a charge of first-degree murder, Grayson is also charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct.
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