How Sonya Massey's Death Could Have Been Prevented

LOADING ERROR LOADING The police shooting death of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman in Springfield, Illinois, renewed a call from elected officials for police reform legislation and ignited ongoing demonstrations demanding police accountability nationwide. In this image taken from body camera video released by Illinois State Police on Monday, July 22, 2024, former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson, left, points his gun at Sonya Massey, who called 911 for help, before shooting and killing her inside her home in Springfield, Illinois, on July 6, 2024. via Associated Press When the two deputies walked into Massey’s home, Grayson told her to turn off a stove that had a pot of boiling water on it. Menos said the officers were “looking for more” than the actual reason they were called to Massey’s home. Ultimately, if they would do less and do what they were called for, Sonya Massey may be alive today.” Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell condemned Grayson’s actions during the shooting and described him as a “rogue individual” who did not use proper policing tactics. “He just didn’t use it.” Pritzker called for Campbell’s resignation on Wednesday for hiring Grayson, not meeting with Massey’s family and failing to bring in reforms to his police department.