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Sonya Massey, an Illinois woman fatally shot by a deputy while seeking help, died from a gunshot wound to her head, according to an autopsy report released Friday by the Sangamon County coroner.
The report confirms that her death was a homicide.
Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon stated, “The cause of death; was a gunshot wound of the head.
The manner of death; Homicide.” This aligns with previous statements but clarifies the official classification of the incident.
The autopsy details that the bullet entered Massey’s head at her lower left eyelid and exited through the upper left neck.
Massey’s family held a press conference following the report’s release, expressing their grief and anger over the tragedy.
Shadia Massey, Sonya’s cousin, spoke about the profound impact of the loss on the family. “Sonya meant the world to me. I loved her so much.
This tragedy has been so much on my family. Her kids. Her daughter cannot sleep at night,” she said.
“This is the hardest thing that we have ever been through as a Massey. It just breaks my heart that our family has to go through this.”
Raymond Massey, Sonya’s uncle, described her as a loving and kind individual. “She was always full of love. And she loved her kids and God,” he added.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Massey’s family, described the autopsy report as further proof of the unjust nature of the shooting.
“The autopsy confirmed what everybody already knew with the video,” Crump said. “That this was just a senseless and unnecessary excessive use of force, completely unnecessary, certainly not justified.”
Former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, who shot Massey, has been fired and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct.
According to the source, Grayson has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Malachi Massey, Sonya’s son, expressed his shock and concern during the press conference. “The first night I don’t go to my mother’s house, this happens,” he said.
“How? Why? And I wonder if I was there if he would have done anything to me.”
On July 6, Massey had called 911 reporting a possible intruder at her Springfield home. Body camera footage released Monday shows Grayson yelling at Massey to put down a pot of boiling water.
The footage captures Massey pleading with the deputies, saying, “Please, don’t hurt me,” when they arrived at her door.
As Grayson pointed out the boiling water on the stove, Massey poured it into the sink and declared, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
Grayson then threatened to shoot her, and the footage shows him shooting Massey three times in the face after she covered herself with a red oven mitt.
The footage, viewed from Grayson’s partner’s body camera since Grayson’s camera was off, revealed that Grayson’s use of deadly force was not justified, according to an Illinois State Police review.
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Grayson’s history includes a discharge from the U.S. Army for “misconduct (serious offense)” and two DUI offenses in Macoupin County, Illinois, in 2015 and 2016.
His legal representative, Dan Fultz, declined to comment on these details.
The report also highlighted that Grayson had worked with six different law enforcement agencies over the past four years.