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Springfield, Illinois — A distressing incident on July 6, 2024, has led to murder charges against former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson.
Responding to a 911 call around 12:50 a.m. at a home in the 2800 block of Hoover Avenue, deputies entered the residence of 36-year-old Sonya Massey to ensure safety and gather information.
During the visit, an altercation occurred involving a pot of water left on the stove. Deputy Grayson, upon noticing the pot, commented from the living room. Massey, with police permission, moved to remove the pot and placed it on the kitchen counter.
The situation escalated quickly when Deputy Grayson drew his 9mm firearm and threatened Massey. In response, Massey raised her hands, apologized, and ducked behind the kitchen counter.
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The deputies, with guns drawn, approached Massey. As she rose and reached for the pot again, Grayson fired three shots, hitting Massey in the face.
She received immediate medical attention and was transported to a hospital but was later pronounced dead.
On July 17, authorities charged Grayson with three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct.
Held in jail pending trial, Grayson faces significant prison time if convicted, with potential sentences ranging from 45 years to life for murder, six to 30 years for battery, and two to five years for misconduct.
A Sangamon County judge deemed him a community risk, agreeing with prosecutors on pre-trial detention. This story is developing, stay tuned for updates.
[H/T PoliceActivity ]
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Many of these comments display the sort of thing that comes from an incomplete examination of the evidence. This article shows ONLY the video from then ‒ Ofc. Grayson’s partner’s BWC. Not then ‒ Ofc. Grayson’s BWC. His video clearly shows that Ms. Massey says, in a complete change from previous demeanor, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” while holding a pot of (probably boiling) steaming water. Based on his actions immediately after, he took this as a threat to douse him, and maybe his partner with that boiling water.
Boiling water can cause death, permanent disfigurement, loss of function, and therefore meets the standard of the possibility of causing death and/or “serious bodily injury.” Such a threat is a deadly use of force and deadly force is an appropriate response.
This article says that she “reached for the pot” after being threatened by then ‒ Ofc. Grayson’s, pointing of his firearm at her. BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT SHE GRABBED THE POT AND ACTUALLY DID THROW IT AT HIM. His shot struck her a moment after she started the motion of throwing the pot, interrupting that throw. The pot landed in a chair that was against the counter that was between them. The water fell short of reaching the officers but it flowed past the chair.
This last part can be seen in then ‒ Ofc. Grayson’s body worn camera which neither news organizations, nor this article has shown. It can be seen at this link which starts at 18:07 of the complete video. This video proves that SHE DID throw the pot of boiling water at then ‒ Ofc. Grayson. Had he hesitated a moment he’d have been scalded. https://youtu.be/crviPQk2ox0?si=crCIEmdCp3ocLOrO&t=1087
The mark of an intellectual fool is throwing pejoratives when they lack wisdom.
She was nuts, no doubt, and who knows what she meant by “rebuke…”, but she clearly made no attempt to do anything physical until he escalated the situation by threatening her, and closing while pushing his weapon at her. You could just as easily see that raising the pot was at first a defensive cover move, and then a desperate last-ditch effort to fend off an attack as she understood she was about to be shot. Classic cop escalation dynamic, classic helpless victim response. End the tension by forcing the victim past some trigger point to justify killing them. There was no credible risk to the officer of life or limb, even if she had thrown the pot from across the room. He made no effort to deescalate. “Rebuke” is not a threat to life or limb, yet he went ballistic the moment he heard those words.
@mp Your statement that “… she clearly made no attempt to do anything physical until he escalated the situation by threatening her, and closing while pushing his weapon at her.” Is incorrect on its face, because you’ve got the timing of events out of the proper order. FIRST, she made her “rebuke” statement, which, given the context, he reasonably took as a threat since she was holding a pot of boiling water, a potentially deadly weapon. THEN, he pointed his gun at her as he ordered her to drop the pot of water. In response, she dropped down, out of his sight. He took a step forward and to his right so that he could see her again. When he regained sight of her, she was holding the pot of water above her shoulder with both hands, in the manner that one would use to throw the boiling water at him. She did, in fact throw the pot of water at him, and he quickly fired several shots at her. This is evidenced by the fact that the pot wound up in a chair that was against her side of the counter, and the water can be seen under the chair, the legs of which are obscured by steam.
Your statement, “There was no credible risk to the officer of life or limb, even if she had thrown the pot from across the room.” Is absurd. She was not, “across the room from him,” they were only 10′ ‒ 12′ apart, an easy toss. Boiling water is a deadly threat because it can cause “serious bodily injury.”
He did not “go ballistic the moment he heard those (rebuke) words,” rather he drew and pointed his gun at her, while giving commands to drop the pot. He didn’t fire until it was clear and obvious that she was in the act of throwing the pot of boiling water at him.
Agree with most of the above. However…
The white guy is looking at life.
This guy got out after 4. There are disparities.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/27/us/mohamed-noor-justine-ruszczyk-release/index.html
Anyone who supports this shoot is a complete idiot. If you can’t handle an old lady with a pot of water without resorting to deadly force, you deserve to rot in hell.
Hard to argue with that.
She was 36 years old, other than that, yup.
WTF are these people quoting? This woman was either unbalanced or on drugs. This was boiling water and it represents a threat to life and limb. Play stupid games and win stupid prizes. Remember they were here on a health check-why? And we all know why this cop is being charged with murder.
You are an idiot, hot water will not kill the deputy, sure it could burn them but it’s not a life threat nor was the situation. The deputies could have backed out of the situation, they were there to help not to escalate the situation to murder. They were there because of her calling because she saw someone out her window next to her house, it was not a welfare check.
That deputy has a long past of bullshit and should never have been hired, he only was due to a family relation.
You have a wraped brain or you are completely brainwashed.
You are an idiot.
That is a comment that is not grounded in reality and gives evidence you did not watch the bodycam video. There was less justification for him to shoot her than there was for the Memphis PD officers to beat Tyre Nichols to death.
The woman’s mental health issues do not rise to the level of killing her. The officer lied about what happened and was busted for his dishonesty by his own bodycam, The officer played a stupid game and will get a stupid prize if he is convicted. He should spend the rest of his life in prison and every other prisoner should be informed that he was a corrupt cop who most likely killed this woman BECAUSE she was black. There was nothing on the video that indicated she was the threat he claimed. He was the threat and needs to feel the same kind of threat from his new friends in prison.
That crazy bastard was still yelling at her to drop the pot even as she was lying on the ground with a bullet hole in her eye. Check the cops record, he should have never been allowed to be a cop no less carry a gun. And it took forever to give her any attention especially medically.
Burns can be very life threatening, she ducked down, still had her pot in hand. Could the deputies have demanded she stand up with her hands up? Yes. But consider this: If she had a gun of any sort in that lower kitchen cabinet, she could have easily shot through the 1/4″ cabinet backer to strike the officers. Also notice the water on the floor as they approach after the shots were fired. Did she attempt to throw the boiling water at the officers? Standing there with a potential lethal weapon and saying “I rebuke you in the name of the Jesus” didn’t help her at all. I believe this poor woman was having some mental issues and truly feel sad for her and her family and friends. I think the hot head officer needs to be held accountable, but only he can tell you what was going through his head at the time. There’s a lot of armchair quarter backing going on right now. Not to belittle this tragedy, but it will be interesting to see how it hashes out in court. Y’all take care.
As an ex-cop shot in the line of duty, I am ashamed of this guy. He was wrapped way too tight and should never have been there. He’s a hot head and I will never defend his actions.
I showed this to two well experienced use of force instructors and we broke this down from by frame. 100% agreement on the rightful charges. Most cops charged are the victims of arrogant self serving prosecutors, but this is simply a case of murder. Time to rot buddy. Thanks for making us all look bad.
Pay attention to what is quoted as the woman making a statement, then see the response the officer gives. Never would imagine the way the officer would make that kind of reply to someone preaching Jesus at them. The officer is clearly a hothead & let his emotions take over when it was not necessary. And what kind of damage is a hot pot going to do to someone with that distance?
Absolutely ridiculous, she was not provided immediate medical assistance. Matter of fact, the cop that shot her witnessed all her blood pumped from her body in a matter of seconds as her heart fought to do it’s job, until there was nothing left to pump. I have no doubt that created and indelible memory.
I support the blue 100%. It’s a thankless job. But that was one of the worst police shoots I’ve ever seen. Cops have feeling too, and if I were this cop I would hate to be the one looking in the mirror every morning. And from what I’ve seen online about this cop, this wasn’t his first rodeo.
They article is lying. She did NOT receive “immediate medical attention”.
I am 100% right wing. Hardcore constitutionalist. Proud patriot.
However, I believe at my core that reigning in the police and repealing qualified immunity.
Yes, I believe in law and order. However, in this day and age it’s getting hard to differentiate modern American police from WW2 era nazi gestapo agents.
I agree. 100% correct.
A little Church lady who loved Jesus was a threat because she had a pan of hot water? The ultra defensive LE training has failed, the hiring standards has failed.
will the city sue the pot manufacturer for selling a product that can be easily modified into an assault weapon?