Sonya Massey’s family has reached a $10 million settlement with Sangamon County, Illinois, after the 36-year-old Black woman was tragically shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy in her own home, just after she called for help. This settlement marks the largest civil rights payout in the county’s history.
Reports say the Sangamon County Board unanimously approved the settlement. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Massey’s family, called it “only the first step in the journey for justice.” He added, “We want civil accountability, criminal culpability, and we want legislative changes. We want laws that 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 showed 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 law enforcement agencies in just four years, was fired and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody.
The $10 million settlement will go to Massey’s two children. Her father, James Wilburn, has blamed both the county and Grayson’s previous employers for hiring him despite his history of performance issues and DUI convictions.
This case also led to Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell retiring early and a federal agreement requiring the sheriff’s office to improve its training, nondiscriminatory policing practices, and use-of-force reporting.
While the settlement provides some financial relief, Massey’s family continues to fight for justice and push for changes to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
