The trial of a former Illinois deputy who is accused of killing Sonya Massey began on Monday in Peoria, Illinois.
Body camera footage shows two deputies responding to the incident, including then-Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson.
Almost two weeks after Massey’s killing, 31-year-old Grayson was fired and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery, and one count of official misconduct.
Massey’s killing ignited a national firestorm, prompting protesters across the country to call for justice for Massey, who suffered from mental health issues, according to her family.
A group of people gathered for a rally outside the Peoria County Courthouse on Monday morning, holding signs calling for justice for Massey.
In Peoria, Illinois, the trial of a former Illinois deputy who is charged with Sonya Massey’s murder got underway Monday.
According to authorities, Massey, a Black mother of two who was 36 years old, was shot and killed in July 2024 after phoning police to her Springfield residence due to a prowler. Two deputies responding to the incident, including Sean Grayson, the then-sheriff’s deputy for Sangamon County, are seen on body camera footage.
According to a report written after the incident, Grayson, who is white, shot Massey three times because he feared she would be hurt because she was carrying a pot of boiling water. He said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”. “,”.
Grayson, 31, was dismissed and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery, and one count of official misconduct nearly two weeks after Massey was killed. He was detained pending trial after entering a not guilty plea.
The jury selection process for Grayson’s trial began Monday morning. The trial is anticipated to last one to two weeks, and cameras were not permitted in the courtroom.
He showed up in court Monday dressed in a navy blue suit, glasses, and a tie with stripes of blue and yellow. Grayson sat unbound at the table in front of the jury, but he was handcuffed and escorted in and out by a Peoria County Sheriff deputy during breaks. Grayson paid close attention to the questions posed, focusing primarily on the judge and attorneys but occasionally turning to look at the jury.
Across the nation, protesters demanded justice for Massey, who had mental health problems, after her murder sparked a national firestorm, according to her family. Their lawyer, Ben Crump, described the $10 million settlement that Sangamon County officials agreed to pay Massey’s family in February as “just the first step in the journey for justice.”. “”.
Defense lawyers requested that the trial be moved from Sangamon County to Peoria in April, arguing that the case’s nature and media coverage had “shaped public perception, making it difficult to separate fact from speculation,” according to NBC Chicago.
Holding signs demanding justice for Massey, a crowd assembled for a rally outside the Peoria County Courthouse on Monday morning. “Unite Now Against Racist Violence” was written on one sign. “..”.
“No justice, no tranquility. The crowd chanted, “Prosecute the police.”.
Among the few people outside the courthouse was Keri Hayes, chairwoman of the American Civil Liberties Union’s racial justice committee in Peoria.
“I truly believe that the police should be held accountable for the senseless killing that occurred,” she told NBC News.
