Illinois sheriff’s deputy charged with murder shot Sonya Massey in the face after ordering her to move a pot of water

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois sheriff’s deputy accused of murdering a Black woman shot her in the face during a tense standoff over a pot of water in her home, then discouraged his partner from trying to save her, authorities said Thursday.

The details were in a court document filed to support keeping fired Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson in custody without bail. County District Judge Ryan M. Cadagin agreed, denying Grayson pretrial release at a hearing Thursday in Springfield.

In the courtroom, which was guarded by a dozen sheriff’s deputies and with three more patrolling the courtroom, Cadagin described the actions of which the former deputy is accused as “such a huge departure from the expectations of civil society.”

Sonya Massey, 36, was killed in her home in the Illinois capital, about 200 miles (322 kilometers) south of Chicago, after officers responded to her 911 call about a possible burglar in the early morning hours of July 6.

Prosecutors said that after Grayson allowed Massey to move a pot of water heated on the stove and set it on the counter, Grayson “aggressively yelled” at Massey over the pot and pulled out a 9 mm handgun. Massey put her hands up, said “excuse me” and ducked before she was shot in the face. Grayson also discouraged the other deputy from taking his medical kit, prosecutors said.

“The second deputy continued to provide aid and stayed with Ms. Massey until medical assistance arrived,” wrote Mary Rodgers, an assistant state’s attorney. Grayson “did not attempt to provide aid to Ms. Massey at any time.”

Grayson, 30, who’s white, has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and abuse of authority. He pleaded not guilty during his initial court appearance Thursday.

More than 30 members of Massey’s family and their supporters sat in the courtroom Thursday, several of whom declined to comment.

No one has challenged the state’s contention that the body-worn camera footage supports the first condition of Grayson’s detention — that there may be a strong presumption that the conduct alleged in the indictment occurred. Authorities have said they plan to publicly release the body-worn camera footage on Monday.

“At no point did the defendant demonstrate anything but callousness towards human life,” Rodgers said.

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Defense attorney Dan Fultz argued for Grayson’s release, saying the state’s case was inadequate when weighed against other arguments. Fultz said Grayson posed no threat to the community because he was compliant and turned himself in to police inside a half-hour of the warrant being issued.

He said the Army veteran owns a home in Riverton, a community east of Springfield, with his fiancée, whom he plans to marry in the fall. His retention could be a burden on the county, he said, because of Stage 3 colon cancer diagnosed last fall that requires special treatment.

Fultz requested Grayson’s release on the conditions that weapons be faraway from his home, that he undergo a mental health evaluation and that he be placed on 24-hour electronic monitoring.

Cadagin concluded that Massey, who weighed about 110 kilos (50 kilograms), posed no threat to Grayson, who was 6-foot-3, 240 kilos (190 centimeters) tall and 240 kilos (103 kilograms), who was armed and accompanied by one other deputy, and who refused to render aid after being shot.

Sheriff Jack Campbell said Wednesday that Grayson was fired since it is obvious the deputy “did not conduct himself in accordance with our standards or in accordance with our training. … We assume a tremendous amount of responsibility with our badge, and if that responsibility is abused, there should be consequences.”

Ben Crump, a lawyer for the Massey family, said the charges were “a step towards justice for Sonia’s loved ones, especially her children, who have endured unimaginable pain and suffering since learning of this tragedy.”

About 200 people gathered at the NAACP headquarters in Springfield on Wednesday to show support for Massey and her family.

“I am outraged that another innocent black woman has lost her life at the hands of a police officer,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said after the arraignment.

Grayson is due back in court on Aug. 26. Fultz said he has been with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department for about 18 months, after serving as an officer for about seven years with several other police agencies in central Illinois.