Charles Langston:'Stop the killings': Vigils honor Sonya Massey as calls for justice grow

SPRINGFIELD,Charles Langston Ill. − Protests and vigils continued around the country Sunday in remembrance of Sonya Massey, a Black woman whose fatal shooting by a white sheriff's deputy in her Illinois home has drawn national outrage − as the sheriff's union pushes for the deputy to be reinstated.

Controversy surrounding the shooting intensified after the release last week of a body camera video that captured the gruesome July 6 incident. Activists have declared Sunday a National Day of Mourning for Massey, and gatherings were planned in New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Massey's home of Springfield and elsewhere.

About 350 people attended the Springfield rally at Comer Cox Park, many wearing purple, Massey's favorite color. The supporters were expected to march to the Illinois Capitol Building a few blocks away. Austin Randolph, president of the Springfield NAACP, said there was “no excuse, no explanation, no reason'' for Massey's death and called on the crowd to keep their "eye on the prize" as the deputy's trial plays out.

Hundreds rallied over the weekend in Chicago, Brooklyn and other cities. At a Chicago "Justice for Sonya Massey" rally Saturday in Federal Plaza, Black Lives Matter organizer Troy Gatson told ABC 7's Eyewitness News residents came together "to hear the voices of the community, so we can push back to stop the killings."

On July 17, Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean P. Grayson was fired and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct in Massey's death. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond.

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police also filed a grievance saying Grayson was fired "without just cause." The document seeks his reinstatement, payment of lost wages and benefits and "any other appropriate relief."

Fresh heartache:Sonya Massey's killing is painful for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd activists

The Massey family's lawyer Ben Crump said Massey had an encounter with police over a mental health issue the day before the shooting. Crump said Massey had driven herself to HSHS St. John's Hospital seeking help but returned home later that day.

An autopsy revealed she was killed by a bullet that entered under her left eye. "She needed a helping hand, not a bullet to the face," Crump said.

Communities across US hold National Day of Mourning

Communities across the country gathered on Sunday as part of a nationwide day of mourning for Massey.

Dameon Johnson, of Springfield, Illinois, said he didn't know Sonya Massey. But when Johnson got word that a group out of New York City was putting together a National Day of Mourning for Massey, he said he knew he had to act.

"All that I've read, all that I've seen, she seems like she's my little sister and I took personal attachment to this issue, to this tragedy," Johnson said to a crowd of about 350 people at Comer Cox Park on Sunday. "Look, this is ground zero. If you look around here, this is truly amazing."

Many attendees in purple were wearing "Say Her Name: Sonya Massey" shirts. Massey's mother, Donna, thanked the crowd for the support.

"This is not just for Sonya," she said. "This is for all of us. We still haven't gotten justice and it's time."

Vigils and protests were also held in New York, Illinois, Georgia and Virginia. CBS News reported that hundreds rallied at Washington Square Park in New York City, calling for justice.

"I'm just so sick and tired of this happening over and over and over again and nothing is being done about it," Charlene Woodruff told the news station.

Local news stations in Champaign, Illinois, and Atlanta reported that dozens of community members gathered for vigils in honor of Massey. In Norfolk, Virginia, an activist group organized a march in solidarity for justice, according to television station WVEC.

Why was Sonya Massey shot?

Three weeks ago Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two, called 911 to report a possible intruder in her home. Bodycam video from the scene shows Grayson and another responding deputy speaking calmly with Massey outside the home. They enter the residence and continue to speak with Massey, asking for her identification card. Grayson sees a pot of water boiling and tells Massey to move it to avoid a fire. She moves it as the deputies move away, and asks where they are going.

"Away from your hot steaming water,” Grayson says, to which Massey responds: "Away from the hot steaming water? Oh, I’ll rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

"You better ... not or I swear to God I’ll ... shoot you in the ... face," Grayson says, then takes out his gun.

Massey ducks and says, “I’m sorry," as the deputies yell at her to drop the pot. Three three gunshots are heard.

Grayson is then heard calling for EMS and the other deputy says, "I’m gonna go get my kit."

"She’s done. You can go get it, but that’s a headshot," Grayson responds.

Who is Sean Grayson?

Grayson, 30, served in the Army from 2014 to 2016. According to his personnel file and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, Grayson worked part-time for four different police departments before he began working for the Auburn, Illinois, police department in July 2021. He later worked as a deputy in Logan County and then joined the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in May 2023.

He twice pleaded guilty to charges he was driving under the influence, one while he was in the U.S. Army, records show. A sheet from his personnel file, obtained by The State Journal-Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, through a Freedom of Information Act request, listed "misconduct (serious offense)" as his reason for separation from the Army on Feb. 27, 2016.

Grayson's former sergeant, in writing a recommendation letter for him for the Auburn Police Department, noted that "aside from Mr. Grayson's DUI, there were no other issues that he had during his tenure in the U.S. Army."

Jeff Wilhite, a spokesman for Sangamon County, said the sheriff's office knew about both DUIs. 

Federal investigation underway as supporters mourn loss

Massey's death is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice. A DOJ committee and a Springfield church are hosting a listening session for the community Monday evening. Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell, whose hiring of Grayson has been scrutinized, is expected to attend.

Joe Feiden of Springfield came to Sunday’s rally with a “Campbell resign” sign.

“The Illinois state constitution doesn’t allow for impeachment,” Feiden said. “A sheriff can be removed if there’s a lynching when a person is in his custody. I would argue that this is a modern-day lynching.”

K.J. Moore of Springfield said she lived several blocks from Massey and her own daughter had a mental health crisis last spring.

Springfield police came twice to her home in 48 hours, Moore said, but "it was a totally different scenario,'' because in her case “they showed compassion."

"If I had not been an advocate or voice for her, the same thing (that happened to Massey) could’ve happened."

Rekindling memories of Breonna Taylor

For activists like Hannah Drake, Massey's killing by a law enforcement officer in her own home brings back painful memories of Breonna Taylor, the Louisville, Kentucky, emergency medical technician who in March 2020 was shot dead by police officers who rammed their way into her apartment during a raid.

Taylor's killing led to large protests as part of the national reckoning over police brutality and racial injustice during the summer of 2020 sparked by the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Though Louisville banned no-knock warrants following the uproar over Taylor's shooting, policy changes at the federal level have been slow to come by.

“It's like we're in a domestic violence relationship with America,” Drake said. “It's like a honeymoon phase, and then it's right back to violence.”

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, Karissa Waddick and Olivia Evans of USA TODAY.