SPRINGFIELD, Sick. (AP) — A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy was sentenced Thursday to twenty years in jail for fatally taking pictures Sonya Massey, who had dialed 911 to report a attainable prowler exterior her Springfield residence.
Sean Grayson, 31, was convicted in October in a police brutality case that prompted protests over systemic racism and led to a U.S. Division of Justice inquiry. Grayson, who’s white, acquired the utmost attainable sentence. He has been incarcerated since he was charged within the killing.
He apologized throughout the sentencing, saying he wished he may carry Massey again and spare her household the ache he precipitated. His lawyer had requested for a sentence of six years, noting that Grayson has late stage colon most cancers that has unfold to his liver and lungs.
“I made loads of errors that night time. There have been factors once I ought to’ve acted, and I didn’t. I froze,” he mentioned throughout the listening to. “I made horrible selections that night time. I’m sorry.”
Massey’s mother and father and two kids — who lobbied for the utmost sentence — mentioned their lives had modified dramatically because the killing. Her two kids mentioned they needed to develop up with no mom, whereas Massey’s mom mentioned she lived in worry. They requested the choose to hold out justice in her title.
“At the moment, I’m afraid to name the police in worry that I’d find yourself like Sonya,” her mom Donna Massey mentioned throughout the listening to.
‘It rocked the nation’
Grayson’s attorneys had pushed for a brand new trial, which Decide Ryan Cadigan dismissed in the beginning of the listening to.
In calling for the utmost jail time period, State’s Lawyer John Milhiser argued that Massey would nonetheless be alive if the police division had despatched another person to reply.
“Sonya Massey’s demise rocked her household, but it surely rocked the neighborhood, it rocked the nation,” State’s Lawyer John Milhiser mentioned. “We’ve to do no matter we will to make sure it by no means occurs once more.”
When the choose learn the sentence, the household reacted with a loud cheer: “Sure!” The choose admonished them.
After the listening to, Massey’s family thanked the general public for the assist and listening to their tales about Massey.
“Twenty years just isn’t sufficient,” her daughter Summer season advised reporters.
The day of the taking pictures
Within the early morning hours of July 6, 2024, Massey — who struggled with psychological well being points — summoned emergency responders as a result of she feared there was a prowler exterior her Springfield residence.
In response to physique digicam footage, Grayson and sheriff’s Deputy Dawson Farley, who was not charged, searched Massey’s yard earlier than assembly her at her door. Massey appeared confused and repeatedly mentioned, “Please, God.”
The deputies entered her home, Grayson observed the pot on the range and ordered Farley to maneuver it. As a substitute, Massey went to the range, retrieved the pot and teased Grayson for transferring away from “the new, steaming water.”
From this second, the trade shortly escalated.
Massey mentioned: “I rebuke you within the title of Jesus.”
Grayson drew his sidearm and yelled at her to drop the pan. She set the pot down and ducked behind a counter. However she appeared to select it up once more.
That’s when Grayson opened hearth on the 36-year-old single mom, taking pictures her within the face. He testified that he feared Massey would scald him.
Convicted of downgraded costs at trial
Grayson was charged with three counts of first-degree homicide, which may have led to a life sentence, however a jury convicted him of the lesser cost. Illinois permits for a second-degree homicide conviction if proof exhibits the defendant actually thought he was at risk, even when that worry was unreasonable.
Massey’s household was outraged by the jury’s resolution, elevating questions of racial injustice.
“The justice system did precisely what it’s designed to do immediately. It’s not meant for us,” her cousin Sontae Massey mentioned after the decision.
After the taking pictures
Massey’s killing raised new questions on U.S. regulation enforcement shootings of Black folks of their houses. Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump negotiated a $10 million settlement with Sangamon County for Massey’s family.
The case additionally generated a U.S. Justice Division inquiry that was settled when the county agreed to implement extra de-escalation coaching; gather extra use-of-force knowledge; and compelled the sheriff who employed Grayson to retire. The case additionally prompted a change in Illinois regulation requiring fuller transparency on the backgrounds of candidates for regulation enforcement jobs.
Related Press reporter Sophia Tareen contributed from Chicago.