Illinois State Police via AP
Field case reports have been released by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. They show what ex-deputy Sean Grayson alleged after he fatally shot Sonya Massey in her home on July 6.
According to USA Today, the Sheriff’s Office released a series of field case reports to the public on Monday, August 5. In an initial report dated July 9, Grayson alleges that he arrived at Massey’s residence and was in fear that he and his partner “were going to receive great bodily harm or death.”
“Due to being in fear of our safety and life, I fired my weapon,” Grayson’s initial report reads.
In a follow-up supplemental report, Grayson summarized his initial search of the exterior of Massey’s home. As The Shade Room previously reported, Massey called 911 in the early hours of July 6, reporting a suspected prowler.
“At this time, Sonya stated she needed to show us something in the house and asked us to come inside the residence,” he wrote.
From there, Grayson noted that Massey’s mental state appeared “all over the place.” Additionally, he noted she was “not able to focus or have a conversation.”
Amid their exchange, Grayson reportedly heard a “crackling noise” and noticed a “large metal pot on the stove.” Additionally, he noted that an “unknown liquid”, apparently “reddish” in color, was inside the pot.
“I asked Deputy [redacted] to turn the stove off before a fire started in the residence. Sonya stood up from the couch quickly and went to the kitchen behind Deputy [redacted]. She turned the stove off,” Grayson wrote.
From there, Grayson alleges that Sonya walked to the sink. To him, she was apparently “acting as if she was going to pour” the water down the drain.
“With both hands on the pot, Sonya turned to face me. I did not know the type of liquid that was boiling. I feared Sonya was going to throw boiling liquid on us, causing great bodily harm or death,” he wrote. “…I advised Sonya to put the boiling liquid down. Sonya stated she was going to rebuke me in the name of Jesus. She stated this twice. I interpreted this to mean she was going to kill me.”
Grayson then alleges he ordered Massey to “drop the pot,” to which she “ducked down” behind a cabinet separating them. As he approached the cabinet, Grayson alleges, “Sonya stood up from a crouched position… throwing the boiling substance” at him.
Due to him being scared of the boiling substance causing him harm, he alleges that he fired his weapon “in Sonya’s direction.”
The former cop alleges that after Massey fell “flat on the ground,” he immediately requested medical attention. Additionally, he reported that he observed the “boiling liquid” to have “hit” his boots.
Furthermore, Grayson also alleged that after the shooting, he went to his car to retrieve his first-aid bag to assist Massey.
According to CNN, Grayson has been fired from the force. Additionally, he has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and “official misconduct charges.” Meanwhile, Grayson’s former sheriff, Jack Campbell, has previously rejected calls for him to resign from the force, per The Shade Room.
Earlier this month, Campbell sat down for an exclusive interview with AP News.
“We will spend the rest of my career, certainly, trying to mend these fences and build bridges to the community to establish trust again,” he told the outlet. “When they call us for help, they expect us to help. Sean Grayson did not help Sonya Massey. And he alone is responsible for his actions.”
Campbell reportedly added that Grayson “snapped,” and he’ll “never know why he did that.” Ultimately, the sheriff explained that now his “job” is to “hire people and train them to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
