The family of Sonya Massey is set to receive $10 million in a settlement from Sangamon County after a tragic incident involving a sheriff’s deputy. The county board will vote on the agreement at its upcoming monthly meeting. As part of the settlement, Massey’s family has agreed not to pursue a civil lawsuit.
Massey, 36, called 911 on July 6, 2024, to report a possible intruder at her home in Springfield, Illinois. When law enforcement arrived, Deputy Sean Grayson shot her in the head. He later claimed he fired because he feared she would throw boiling water at him. However, body camera footage shows Massey hiding behind a kitchen counter with her hands raised before the shooting.
She was unarmed and died an hour later from a gunshot wound just below her left eye.
Grayson, 30, was fired from his job and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. He is currently being held in Macon County Jail, with his next court appearance scheduled for March 24.
The proposed settlement states that both the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office and the county’s legal team believe this agreement is in the best interest of the county.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) completed an investigation into the shooting. It determined there was no evidence that the county discriminated in providing services. However, the county did not admit any responsibility for the incident.
As part of the DOJ agreement, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office has pledged to make improvements in handling mental health-related emergency calls. They will continue to work with a local behavioral health center to provide crisis services. This includes deploying mental health teams alongside police officers when responding to such calls.
Additionally, the county has created the Massey Commission, a community-based group focused on addressing racial disparities in policing. This initiative aims to improve relationships between law enforcement and local residents, ensuring fairer and safer policing practices.
This settlement and the policy changes reflect ongoing efforts to improve law enforcement’s response to crises and to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
