The deputy sheriff who fatally shot Sonya Massey in her Illinois home last month has stated that he interpreted her unexpected remark, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” as a threat of deadly harm.
Deputy Grayson, aged 30 concluded in his report that the statement made by Massey meant that she planned on killing him. Thus, according to Grayson, watching Massey vanish behind a counter and then circling the counter to keep her within his sight line, he really thought that she might take a weapon.
Grayson is to be charged with murder in the first degree, aggravated battery, and official misconduct for the death of Massey, a 36-year-old from Springfield. The event that happened on July 6 has activated protests across the country concerning police brutality against Black people in their own houses.
There is an important note Grayson has cleared himself by pleading not guilty to the charges. His attorney Daniel Fultz also did not wish to discuss the matter.
Massey’s family has called for the resignation of Sheriff Jack Campbell, arguing that Grayson’s past issues should have prevented his assignment to law enforcement. They have also hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The event occurred when Grayson and another deputy whose identity was unknown accompanied him to the house to respond to Massey’s emergency 911 call, which she made believing someone was trying to break into the house just past 1 a.m.
Grayson removed a pan of water from the stove. He and Massey briefly shared a laugh as he moved away from the “hot steaming water.”
Grayson’s report documented that Massey then turned and informed him that she would rebuke him in the name of Jesus two times. He deduced this to mean a violence threats would be exercised against him.
Grayson said he drew his pistol and ordered Massey to put down the boiling liquid. She ducked behind a counter, then appeared to grab the pot again, which led Grayson to move around the counter to maintain visual contact.
Grayson said that Massey raised up from the crouched position, lifted the pot up, and above her head almost to a throw the boiling water at him. He stated that he perceived the threat of being burned seriously or killed by the hot substance, which prompted him to shoot three bullets from a 9 mm gun, of which one hit Massey on the face, below the eye.
In the shooting scene, according to the field report by Grayson, he observes that there is steam in the cabinet area and his boots are wet. By July 9, Grayson had been placed on administrative leave.
The report also showed that he watched the body camera footage mainly from the other deputy and thought that his camera was not on until after the shooting.
The other deputy’s report, along with several other officers’ reports from the scene, has not been fully released, with much of the information heavily blacked out.
