Copyright NBC 5 Chicago
The fate of former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson is in the hands of a jury after closing arguments were made Tuesday. Grayson was charged with murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey, an unarmed 36-year-old woman who had called authorities about concerns there was a prowler outside of her Springfield home in July 2024. The jury got the case just before noon on Tuesday. The big question the jury faces is whether they believe Grayson’s explanations of the shooting, which he offered while testifying in his own defense on Monday, or whether they believe prosecutors’ version of events as they unfolded on that fateful July 2024 night. Body camera footage from Grayson’s partner formed the crux of the prosecution’s argument in the case. It shows the encounter with Massey, and how quickly it turned into a fatal shooting. In her closing argument Tuesday, Sangamon County Assistant States Attorney Mary Beth Rogers laid out her case for the jury. “’I’m sorry.’ That is the last thing Sonya Massey said before the defendant murdered her,” she said. Grayson, who was fired from the Sheriff’s office after the shooting, stands charged with first degree murder and official misconduct. Massey was reportedly having an emotional crisis when she called authorities to her home, but prosecutors say Grayson did not act legally in shooting and killing her. “It’s not because Sonya was having a crisis,” Rogers told the jury, “It’s because (Grayson) snapped.” Grayson testified Monday that he was afraid that Massey was preparing to throw a pot of boiling water at him when he opened fire. “He wants you to believe he was scared,” Rogers said, “but you don’t have to because it’s not true. Grayson’s attorney Dan Fultz told the jury that “what happened to Sonya Massey was a tragedy, but it was not a crime.” “What you can’t do is let your emotions dictate the outcome of this case,” he said. Fultz acknowledged the video, and reminded the jury of the defense team’s expert witnesses who argued Grayson’s use of force was appropriate. “This case comes down to one decision you have to make...there is no question he is the one who shot her,” Fulks said. “You saw the video. You can’t go back and look at the outcome and say this is what he should have done differently to avoid this outcome. That is the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, and that is what you are expressly prohibited from doing.” Grayson can be seen on bodycam video reaching for his gun after Massey, who her family said struggled with her mental health, went behind a counter to tend to a pot of boiling water. After the shooting, Grayson can be heard to say he was afraid that Massey was about to throw the water at him. Grayson stood up in court on Monday to show Massey's posture holding the pot and admitted that her demeanor "raised a lot of concern" for him. "We are trained to use force that will gain compliance," Grayson explained. His lawyer, Daniel Fultz, asked, "the only thing you had that you perceived could stop the threat was your duty weapon?" Grayson responded, "yes." The former cop was asked why he didn't use a non-lethal Taser to stop Massey from possibly throwing water on him. He said that in order for a taser to work, it would need to penetrate her clothes and both prongs hit her skin "I didn't want to take the chance of the Taser malfunctioning," he said. But Massey's family claims she suffered from mental health issues. Antonio Romanucci, who was part of the legal team that won the Massey family a $10 million settlement from Sangamon County, agues that Sonya was prone to emotional disturbances. "She wasn't well at that moment," Romanucci said. "Certainly, when you have a white police officer facing a Black woman, you can't help but think that this officer, during this particular disturbance, acted in a way that was unreasonable and used excessive and deadly force." If convicted, Grayson could face 20-to-60 years in prison. He could also face a 25 years-to-life enhancement because he discharged a firearm in the case.
