Sonya Massey could have been saved after Shawn Grayson shot her, court hears: Recap

Opening statements are set to begin in the trial of an Illinois police officer who shot a Black woman in her own home after she called 911 for help.

Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old single mother of two teenagers, called emergency responders about a suspected stalker on her property in Springfield on July 6, 2024 — and was found murdered after an apparent misunderstanding over a hot pan of water.

Shawn Grayson, 31, a former deputy with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department in central Illinois, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder over the incident.

Grayson, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

get along with The Independent’s Live coverage here.

The jury – which is made up of 10 women and five men, including three alternates – was sworn in earlier this week.

They will hear testimony over the next week and a half. Opening statements are scheduled to begin later this morning.

Former deputy Shawn Grayson, 31, was initially charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault and official misconduct on trial in the murder of Sonya Massey.

However, on Tuesday a judge agreed to drop charges of aggravated battery and official misconduct. CBS Chicago Report. Grayson will now be tried only on three counts of first-degree murder.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Thirteen friends and family members of Sonya Massey have arrived in court, according to local media outlets. WICS,

The group includes his mother, Donna Massey, and his aunt, Ramona Massey.

Nine of Shawn Grayson’s family members and friends have also come.

According to local media reports, Judge Ryan Cadagin and the jury have entered the courtroom.

Opening statements are scheduled to begin soon.

Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser begins his opening statement.

According to the local outlet, Millhiser told the jury about the timing of the shooting and the first-degree murder charges against Shawn Grayson. WICS,

“It will be made clear that the defendant, without legal justification, shot and killed Sonya Massey in her home,” Millhiser said in court. “He did not follow the training, he did not follow policies, and is guilty of first-degree murder.”

Shawn Grayson’s defense attorney, Daniel Fultz, is now addressing the jury WICS,

He told the jury, “If you decide the shooting was lawful then there is no crime.”

Fultz addressed the pot of hot water that Sonya Massey was handling moments before she was killed.

Body camera footage from that night shows Grayson ordering Massey to remove a pot of hot water from her stove.

When Grayson walked away, Macy asked him why. He said he was trying to avoid hot water, and Massey responded: “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson later said that he took this to mean “she was going to kill me”. associated Press,

Grayson then tells Macy to drop the pot. She put the utensil down and apologized, but in confusion began to pick it up again when Grayson yelled at her, the AP reports. Shortly afterward, Grayson fired three shots at Massey.

Fultz told the jury, “The evidence will show that, even though her orders were firm, clear and repeated repeatedly, Ms. Massey decided to lift the pot of boiling water above her head and throw it at Deputy Grayson.” “It was only at that moment that Deputy Grayson used his weapon.”