Video of fatal police shooting of Sonya Massey in Springfield to be released Monday – NBC Chicago

Officials in Springfield released video Monday showing police entering the home of a woman who called 911 and the violent scene that ensued when a deputy shot her in the face.

Illinois State Police announced that Sangamon County Prosecutor John Milhiser will release body-worn camera clips of the July 6 incident that left 36-year-old Sonya Massey dead and led to first-degree murder charges against former Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson.

Ben Crump, the prominent civil rights attorney representing Massey’s family, told the crowd at her funeral in Springfield on Friday that the video would expose a crime as horrifying as the 1955 lynching of Chicago teenager Emmitt Till in Mississippi, the shooting of Laquan McDonald by Chicago police and the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

Authorities said Massey, who is black, called 911 in the early morning hours to report a suspected burglar. Grayson entered the home with another officer, noticed a pot on the stove and gave Massey permission to move it. When she placed it on a counter, Grayson allegedly pulled out his 9mm handgun and threatened to shoot her. She allegedly apologized and took cover, but Grayson approached and shot her, prosecutors said.

Grayson, who is white, did not activate his body camera until after the shots were fired, Milhiser claims. He then allegedly advised his partner not to provide medical aid to Massey because of the severity of her injuries, according to court documents describing the incident. The other deputy rendered emergency aid and stayed with Massey until medical personnel arrived.

Grayson was released last week. He pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and abuse of office.

If convicted, he faces 45 to life in prison for murder, 6 to 30 years for assault and 2 to 5 years for misdemeanor. His attorney, Daniel Fultz, declined to comment on Monday.

Massey’s death sparked subsequent protests demanding justice in the case. Massey’s father, James Wilburn, echoed that demand at her funeral and said he was encouraged by the speed with which the Illinois State Police, who investigated the incident, and Milhiser responded.

“Within 10 days, they convened a grand jury. They completed their investigation. They arrested him and fired him,” Wilburn said. “That’s outrageous.”

Crump, who plans a news conference with family members after the video is released, is in Springfield for the second time. He has also represented relatives of Earl Moore, a Springfield man who died after being strapped facedown to a stretcher in December 2022. Two emergency medical technicians are charged with murder in that case.