Sean Grayson, Sonya Massey’s killer, was discharged from the Army for serious misconduct, driving under the influence of alcohol and was required to attend “stressful decision-making” classes, records show.

CNN
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Years before Deputy Sean Grayson shot and killed Sonya Massey in her own home, he had been discharged from the Army for serious misconduct and had previously driven under the influence.

Agency documents show that while working for another sheriff’s office in Illinois, he also disobeyed an order and was told he had to take “high-stress decision-making courses.”

Grayson, who was a Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy before being fired and charged with murder, responded to a report of a burglar at Massey’s home on July 6. Bodycam footage from another deputy showed Massey saying she reprimanded Grayson, after which Grayson threatened the 36-year-old. The exchange ended with Grayson shooting Massey and failing to render aid.

Massey’s death brought back memories of other black women killed by police in their homes in recent years, including Breonna Taylor and Atatiana Jefferson.

Massey’s autopsy report, released Friday, said she was killed by a gunshot wound to the head.

Her family’s attorney emphasized the angle from which the deputy shot Massey.

Massey “was hit under her eye and the bullet exited the back of her neck below her ear,” civil rights attorney Ben Crump told CNN. “That tells us he shot her in a downward motion.”

When asked for comment on Friday, Grayson’s attorney Daniel Fultz told CNN, “I don’t want to comment.”

Grayson, 30, was indicted by a grand jury last week on three counts of first-degree murder and one count each of aggravated assault with a firearm and abuse of office. He has pleaded not guilty and was denied pretrial release, court records show.

As more details come to light about Grayson’s drunk driving and previously documented incidents by the military and police, Massey’s family members are tormented.

One question torments her, says her lawyer Crump: “Why was he even at the sheriff’s office?”

Grayson previously served in the U.S. Army but was discharged for “misconduct (serious offense),” according to a Department of Defense document included in Grayson’s personnel file from his time with the Kincaid Police Department in Illinois. The personnel file was made available to CNN affiliate KSHB.

The document states that Grayson was discharged from the Army after serving as a Private First Class at Fort Riley in Kansas. Details of the alleged misconduct are not listed in the filing.

CNN has asked the Army for more details. In response, Army spokesman Bryce Dubee wrote: “Sean P. Grayson was a 91B (wheeled vehicle mechanic) in the regular Army from May 2014 to February 2016. He was never deployed and left the Army with the rank of Private First Class.”

Grayson was with the Kincaid Police Department for just three months before being fired “for refusing to live within a 10-mile radius,” KSHB reported.

According to court records, Grayson was charged with drunken driving twice in Macoupin County, Illinois – once in 2015 and once in 2016.

The first incident occurred in August 2015. Grayson’s vehicle was impounded after he was charged with driving under the influence. He pleaded guilty and paid a fine of over $1,320, according to court records.

In July 2016, Grayson was again charged with drunken driving. He pleaded guilty and paid a fine of more than $2,400, court records show.

Grayson admitted to the drunken driving charge when he applied to be an officer with the Auburn Police Department in Illinois in 2021. He worked there from July 2021 to May 2022, and CNN’s review of Grayson’s records there revealed no major issues or disciplinary action.

In May 2022, Grayson began working for the Logan County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois, records show. He wrote the sheriff a short letter describing his “terrible decision to drive while intoxicated.”

Grayson’s letter also said he had lost his driving license for a year after pleading guilty to drunk driving for a second time in 2016.

Records show Grayson has worked for six law enforcement agencies in Illinois since 2020. In August 2020, he began working part-time with the Pawnee Police Department, followed by the Kincaid and Virden Police Departments. He then began working full-time with the Auburn Police Department, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, and finally the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in May 2023.

A look at his employment records with the Auburn Police Department shows why Grayson left previous jobs. In some cases, he wanted to work full-time but was only given part-time. In another case, he said he didn’t want to move.

While Grayson apparently had no disciplinary problems during his time as an Auburn police officer, records from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office said he was required to take “classes on high-stress decision-making.” The recommendation came after Grayson failed to slow down after his boss broke off a chase. Grayson was driving about 110 mph before he struck a deer, records say.

“Deputy Grayson pursued the truck at a high rate of speed through Lincoln, reaching speed zones of 63/30 mph and, in my opinion, did not exercise due caution when proceeding through stop sign intersections,” a Logan County deputy wrote in the filing.

Grayson’s supervisor “terminated the pursuit” and Grayson turned off his hazard lights, the report states. But Grayson “continued to drive at a high rate of speed (110/55 mph zone) before striking the deer.”

“Deputy Grayson acknowledged that he lacks experience,” the report states. It also includes a number of recommendations, including “additional traffic stop training, report writing training, high-stress decision making courses, and the need to read, understand, and discuss Logan County Sheriff’s Office policies.”

It was not immediately clear whether Grayson followed those recommendations. He resigned from his post with the Logan County Sheriff’s Office in April 2023. The following month, he transferred to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office – where he later had the fatal encounter with Massey.

Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell fired Grayson after Massey’s death.

“Sonya Massey lost her life due to an unjustified and reckless decision by former Deputy Sean Grayson,” Campbell said in a statement Monday.

“Grayson had other opportunities that he should have taken advantage of. His actions were inexcusable and do not reflect the values ​​or training of our office.”

Massey’s 17-year-old son Malachi must now spend the rest of his life without his mother.

He said his mother was a “bundle of energy” who always reminded him to read the Bible.

“She is the person who taught me how to love,” Malachi told CNN.

The teenager said his mother’s death shocked him so much that he could not describe the pain.

“I’m really at a loss for words,” he said. “I feel sick.”

Bodycam footage from the night of his mother’s death initially showed a calm encounter between Massey, Grayson and another deputy.

While officers were inside the house speaking with Massey, they noticed a pot of boiling water on the burning stove. Massey got up and went to the kitchen to turn off the heat and remove the pot from the stove.

“We don’t need fire as long as we’re here,” said one MP.

As Massey lifted the pot, the other deputy took a step back – “away from your hot, steaming water,” he said.

“I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” Massey replied.

“Huh?” replied the MP.

“I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” Massey said.

“You better not fucking do that,” Grayson replied. “Or I’ll fucking shoot you in the fucking face, I swear to God.”

Grayson then pulled out his gun and pointed it at Massey. She ducked and said “I’m sorry” while picking up the pot, the video shows.

“Drop the damn pot!” both MPs yelled. Then three shots were heard.

After Massey was fatally wounded, the other deputy said he would get a first aid kit to help. Grayson replied, “Nah, she’s done. You can get it, but that’s a shot to the head.”

Later, Grayson spoke to a group of police officers outside. “Yeah, I’m fine,” he said on the bodycam footage. “That damn bitch is crazy.”

Massey’s son said he wants to see Grayson behind bars as long as possible.

“He had no consideration for my mother,” Malachi said. “So we don’t have to show consideration for him either.”

CNN’s Brad Parks, Natasha Bertrand, Emma Tucker and Eric Levenson contributed to this report.