DOJ Launches Federal Civil Rights Investigation Into The Killing Of Sonya Massey
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The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into arguably one of the most egregious and easily avoidable police-involved killings of a Black citizen since the murder of George Floyd.
The July 6 shooting death of 36-year-old Sonya Massey by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson should serve as a prime example of why people, especially Black people, who are suffering from a mental health crisis need the help of a compassionate and competent mental health specialist, not a trigger-happy cop who shoots to kill at the slightest hint of potential danger (which, in Massey’s case, appeared to be non-existent). According to CNN, the DOJ wrote in a Nov. 14 letter to county officials that the shooting “raises serious concerns about SCSO’s interactions with Black people and people with behavioral health disabilities” and also raises concerns about the department’s “policies, practices, procedures, and training regarding community policing, bias-free policing, response to behavioral health crises, use of force, de-escalation.”
The DOJ not only expressed concern over the behavior of the SCSO’s officers, but it also took aim at the emergency response and dispatch system, referencing “the incident and prior 911 calls involving Ms. Massey in the days before her death indicate possible issues.” As we previously reported, about 16 hours before Massey’s fatal encounter with Grayson, she had spoken with different deputies who had responded to a call made by Massey’s mother, Donna Massey, who reported her daughter was in the midst of “a mental breakdown.” Police body camera footage released in September made it evident that was the case.
Massey’s tragic end at the hands of Grayson — who has since been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct — came after she called the police to report a possible intruder at her home on July 6. Video footage shows Massey speaking calmly with Grayson and a second deputy, first at her front door and then in her living room as she sat on the couch. Video footage showed that the deputies noticed a pot of water boiling on the stove and they sent Massey to the kitchen to remove it. While she appeared to do just that, she, possibly jokingly, told the cops, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” and, despite the footage not showing clearly that she made no threatening moves towards the officers, Grayson shot her within seconds, claiming later that he feared she was going to toss boiling water on him. He can also be heard telling other officers after the shooting, “Yeah I’m good, this f**king b*tch is crazy.”
“We strongly encourage the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department, Emergency Telephone System Department and State’s Attorney’s Office to answer all of the Department of Justice’s questions in the letter so that we can all understand what exactly happened before, during and after Sonya Massey was killed by a Sangamon County deputy,” JoAnn Johnson, co-chair of the Massey Commission, said in a statement Sunday. “These answers will help inform our work as we continue to research reform ideas and recommendations at the Massey Commission to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again.” (Regardless of how the investigation turns out, “never happens again” is extremely optimistic. This is policing in America, after all.)
Besides the practices and training of deputies and 911 dispatch, the DOJ said it’s also “reviewing employment practices, allegations of ‘a lack of racial diversity,’ and body-worn camera compliance,” CNN reported. (Grayson didn’t turn on his body camera until after he shot Massey.)
Of course, with the incoming presidential administration’s persistent attacks on all things related to DEI, one can only hope the DOJ’s investigation concludes or makes significant progress before Donald Trump — who has promised police officers “immunity from prosecution” — is sworn into office in January.
Finding justice for victims of extrajudicial executions by police officers is already an uphill battle. Massey and her family deserve a thorough investigation on the state and federal levels, and Grayson deserves accountability.
Black lives matter.
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