The family of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman fatally shot by an Illinois sheriff’s deputy, has alleged that police initially tried to obscure the truth about her death. According to audio recordings obtained by The Guardian, dispatchers and on-scene personnel incorrectly described Massey’s gunshot wound as "self-inflicted," despite evidence to the contrary.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Massey's family accused law enforcement of misleading them about the circumstances of her death. Jimmie Crawford Jr., Massey's former partner and father of her child, recounted how police suggested that either Massey had committed suicide or been killed by an intruder. "They tried to make me believe that a neighbor had done it,” Crawford Jr. said, expressing confusion over the conflicting information provided by the police and medical staff.
It was only after a doctor declared Massey’s death a homicide that the investigation began to shift focus to police involvement. Her father, James Wilburn, revealed that some family members only learned the true nature of her death through news reports.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Massey’s family, announced that the U.S. Department of Justice had launched an investigation into the case. The DOJ confirmed it was "assessing the circumstances surrounding the tragic officer-involved death of Ms. Sonya Massey" and would monitor the ongoing criminal proceedings initiated by the Sangamon County State’s Attorney.
The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Crump drew parallels to the 2015 killing of Laquan McDonald in Chicago, where police initially attempted to withhold video evidence. "What we don’t want to happen is a Laquan McDonald situation," Crump stated, underscoring concerns over potential attempts to cover up the shooting.
The incident occurred early on July 6 when deputies Sean Grayson and his partner responded to Massey's call. Body camera footage shows Grayson and his partner engaging with Massey in her home. Grayson instructed her to remove a pot of boiling water from the stove. When Massey complied, Grayson responded with aggressive threats before fatally shooting her below the eye.
Following the shooting, police audio includes a dispatcher confirming the false narrative that Massey had inflicted the wound on herself. This discrepancy continued even after Massey's family arrived at the hospital, where they were met with inconsistent explanations.
Crump expressed concerns that without the body camera footage, the true details of Massey’s death might have been obscured. "Just imagine if there wasn’t a video, what the narrative would have been,” he said.
The case has garnered widespread condemnation, including statements from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Crump and Massey’s family have discussed potential legislative actions with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, particularly focusing on deputy Grayson, who had a history of disciplinary issues and multiple convictions for DUI.
Massey’s family has called for the resignation of Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell, demanding immediate action.
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