Crump: DOJ is investigating Sonya Massey case

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) —Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has joined the family of Sonya Massey to provide updates on her case Tuesday morning.

The news conference comes a day after the release of bodycam footage showing 36-year-old Massey being shot by a Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy.

According to Crump, the Department of Justice will be involved in the investigation into Massey's shooting.

WAND News reached out to the DOJ, and the department said that it was "aware of and assessing the circumstances surrounding the tragic officer-involved death of Ms. Sonya Massey" and that it will "continue to track the criminal case opened by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney."

The now-former deputy, Sean Grayson, has been indicted and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. He was denied pre-trial release and will remain in custody.

During Tuesday's conference, Crump said that Gov. JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Gov. Juliana Stratton personally spoke with Massey's parents and children to offer their support and commitment that the state will pursue full justice.

Crump's legal team is also investigating the communications the deputies made with dispatch before and after the shooting.

Following this announcement, the National Urban League and the Springfield Urban League are also asking the DOJ to open a civil rights investigation.

Citing concerns that law enforcement prioritized self-preservation over transparency and accountability, National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial and Springfield Urban League President and CEO Marcus Johnson requested Tuesday evening, the DOJ to get involved.

In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, the leaders asked that the Department investigate whether Grayson’s conduct violated federal civil rights laws, and whether the shooting is part of an agency-wide pattern or practice of constitutional violations.

They also requested a meeting with Garland to discuss the persistently high number of police-involved shootings across the country, especially in Black and brown communities.

“According to public reporting, Officer Grayson did not turn on his body worn camera until after he shot Ms. Massey, in violation of Department best practices,” the leaders wrote. “If it were not for Officer Grayson’s unnamed partner, who did have his body camera on, we would not have an accurate understanding of the events of July 6, 2024.”

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