Illinois woman killed in police-involved shooting to be honored at funeral

The funeral of Sonya Massey was held on Friday. The woman from Springfield, Illinois, died after authorities said she was shot by a police officer after she called 911 to report a possible intruder.

Sean Grayson, the now-fired deputy involved in the shooting, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and abuse of office, according to a statement from Sangamon County District Attorney John Milhiser.

Grayson pleaded not guilty and was denied release before trial.

“Today is about peace, today is about my big sister. It’s not about the man who’s going to rot in prison, it’s about my big sister,” said Massey’s younger sister Breeanna Toles. “As a little sister, I look at our text messages. She said, ‘I love you, little sister.’ I hold onto those memories. I wish all my sisters could be here in the room today.”

The Sangamon County District Attorney’s Office has not yet released bodycam footage of the incident, but is expected to do so on Monday, July 22.

“I know people want to see the video, I know people want to talk about the video. I’m just asking you to do it, out of respect for us,” Toles said. “It’s not a video you want to see. My father can’t even sleep.”

Two sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence in Springfield, Illinois, around 12:50 a.m. on July 6 to investigate a possible burglary, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office obtained by ABC News.

“At approximately 1:21 a.m., officers reported shots fired, with a woman struck by gunfire,” the sheriff’s statement said. “Officers immediately administered first aid until emergency medical services arrived. The woman was transported to St. John’s Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. None of the officers were injured in the incident.”

The shooting was investigated by the Illinois State Police (ISP) for use of deadly force at the request of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. After an investigation and by reviewing body camera footage, Milhiser concluded that Grayson’s use of deadly force was not justified.

According to the indictment filed in Sangamon County District Court, Grayson allegedly shot Massey in the face after the deputy “aggressively yelled” at her to put down a pot of boiling water, causing her to throw it on a couch. Grayson then allegedly stopped his partner from getting a first aid kit to help Massey because he allegedly thought the injuries were too severe to resuscitate, prosecutors said. Court documents describe Massey as “calm, perhaps uncomfortable, not aggressive” when deputies responded to her call for help.

According to Ben Crump, the family’s attorney, Massey had mental health problems.

The other deputy, whose name was not released, still rendered aid and stayed with Massey until paramedics arrived, charging documents say. Grayson did not attempt to render aid, according to the documents.

Grayson did not activate his body-worn camera until after the shooting, the indictment says. The other deputy did not activate his camera until after he arrived at the scene, the indictment says.

Grayson has held six different police jobs over the past four years, according to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. The longest job he held lasted one year. It’s unclear why he changed jobs during that time.

Massey’s father, James Wilburn, mentioned the former deputy’s employment history during the funeral and urged Illinois lawmakers in attendance to reform the hiring process for police officers and deputies. It’s not clear why he changed jobs during this time.

“There were all these warning signs and yet he was appointed as a representative in this district,” Wilburn said. “Senator, introduce the bill tomorrow. You can call it the Sonya Massey bill.”

Crump called for justice at the funeral.

“We are here to fight for justice for Sonya Massey,” he said. “We say to Deputy Sean Grayson: Until we receive justice, we rebuke you in the name of Jesus. We say to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department: Until we receive justice, we rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

“I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” was one of the last things Massey said before Grayson shot her, according to Crump.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued a statement saying Massey deserves the protection she wants law enforcement to provide.

“My heart breaks for Sonya’s children, for her family and friends, and for all who knew and loved her, and I am angry that another innocent black woman’s life was taken at the hands of a police officer,” Pritzker’s statement said.

Grayson’s attorney, Dan Fultz, declined to comment.

ABC News’ Emily Chang contributed to this report.