Deputy arrested for murder in shooting of Springfield woman to appear in court

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy has been arrested for murder in the shooting of 36-year-old Sonya Massey.

Massey was shot at her Springfield home on Saturday, July 6.

Sean P. Grayson was booked on first-degree murder charges as well as aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct Wednesday afternoon. He is currently in custody and will appear in court Thursday where he'll be arraigned.

Sangamon County State's Attorney John Milhiser said that footage from the shooting will not be released until 10 a.m. Monday.

In a news release, Milhiser said that Massey was shot inside her home by Grayson. A review of the Illinois State Police investigation and body-worn camera footage does not support a justification of deadly force, according to the state's attorney's office.

In the days since the shooting, the Springfield community has been demanding to know what transpired in the half hour between deputies arriving to Hoover Avenue and shooting Massey.

Timeline - July 6

12:50 a.m. - Two Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputies arrive to the 2800 block of Hoover Ave. for a report of a prowler
1:21 a.m. - The deputies report that Massey was shot
1:47 a.m. - Massey is pronounced dead at HSHS St. John’s Hospital

Both deputies were placed on administrative leave while ISP investigated the shooting. Grayson's employment with the Sheriff's Office has since been terminated.

On July 12, civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced that he had been retained by Massey's family. On Wednesday afternoon, a representative from Crump's office thanked the community for giving Massey's family time to process and that the video of her shooting was "shocking" and "hurts to watch."

In a statement, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell said that his "heart breaks for the family and friends of Sonya Massey," and that Grayson's actions "do not reflect the values and training of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office or law enforcement as a whole."

Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter released this statement:

"Sonya Massey’s murder is a tragedy that reverberates in multiple dimensions. We are powerless to right this wrong. But we can seek justice for the victim and for the community. I have the highest degree of confidence that Sheriff Jack Campbell and State’s Attorney John Milhiser will do their utmost to achieve the community’s collective will that justice be done."

WAND News is working to learn more, and will update this story with the latest information.