Nationwide — Sonya Massey’s family has reached a $10 million settlement with officials in Sangamon County, Illinois after the 36-year-old Black woman was shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy in her own home after she called for help. The settlement marks the largest civil rights case payout in the county’s history.
“We want civil accountability, criminal culpability and we want legislative changes,” Crump said, according to NBC News. “We want the laws to prevent something like this from happening again.”
Massey was killed on July 6th when Deputy Sean Grayson responded to her 911 call. Body-camera footage shows Grayson firing three shots, one hitting Massey beneath her left eye. Grayson claimed he feared for his life when Massey, holding a pot of boiling water, said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
Grayson, who had worked for six different law enforcement agencies in four years, was fired and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. He pleaded not guilty and remains in custody.
The $10 million settlement will go to Massey’s two children. Her father, James Wilburn, blamed both the county and Grayson’s previous employers for hiring him despite his history of performance issues and DUI convictions.
The case also prompted Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell to retire early and led to a federal agreement requiring the sheriff’s office to implement better training, nondiscriminatory policing practices, and improved use-of-force reporting.
Massey’s family continues to seek justice as they remember her life and advocate for changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future.