On Wednesday, James Wilburn stood next to Ben Crump, nationally recognized trial attorney. The moment was surreal for Wilburn, he said, as he listened to Crump’s statement about the loss of Wilburn’s daughter.
“I never thought I’d be the one it happened to,” Wilburn, of Pine Bluff, said on the phone from Springfield, Ill., his voice full of emotion. “I am aware of this happening to so many others, but I could never imagine that my own daughter would be the victim.”
Wilburn was referring to the death of his daughter, Sonya Massey, 36, in a shooting. A deputy in the Sangamon County sheriff’s office has been charged with murder.
The case, like other high-profile incidents in other parts of the country, involves an unarmed Black person being shot and killed by a member of law enforcement. And like many of those cases, this one has taken on national prominence, especially with the hiring of Crump, who has handled many of those big cases.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
According to the sheriff’s office report, on July 6, about 1 a.m., deputies were sent to an address in the Springfield area because of a call about a prowler — a call, as it would later be revealed, was placed by Massey.
“Upon arrival, two Deputies conducted a search of the area. At approximately 1:21 a.m., the Deputies reported that shots had been fired, resulting in a female being struck by gunfire,” stated the sheriff’s report. “Deputies immediately administered first aid until EMS arrived. The woman was transported to St. John’s Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased. No deputies were injured during the incident.”
A report from the Illinois State Police confirmed that it had taken over the investigation into an officer involved shooting at the request of the Sangamon County sheriff’s office.
“During the incident, 36-year-old Sonya Massey was shot and later pronounced deceased at an area hospital,” the state police stated. “ISP is collaborating closely with the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office to conduct a timely, comprehensive, and transparent investigation. In order to protect the integrity of the legal process and the right to a fair trial in the event charges are filed, the body worn camera video and additional information related to the incident are not being released at this time. When appropriate, additional information, including the video, will be shared with Sonya Massey’s family before releasing further.”
On Thursday, the county’s state attorney, John Milhiser, released a statement, giving an update on the case, and in it, placing the blame on the deputy.
“Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson and another deputy made contact with the caller, Sonya Massey, at her residence,” Milhiser stated. “During the interaction inside the home … Deputy Grayson discharged his firearm striking Ms. Massey and killing her.”
Grayson, 30, is white and Massey is Black.
Milhiser said the matter was immediately turned over to the state police and that he had worked with the agency to complete the preliminary investigation in “an expedited time frame.”
“This case was first evaluated under Illinois Law for the use of deadly force,” Milhiser stated. “A review of the Illinois State Police investigation, including the body-worn camera footage, does not support a finding that Deputy Sean Grayson was justified in the use of deadly force.”
Milhiser said the case was then presented to a Sangamon County grand jury “and the Grand Jury returned a five-count indictment on July 17, 2024.”
“The criminal charges against Grayson are First Degree Murder (in 3 counts), Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, and Official Misconduct,” Milhiser stated.
Wilburn said he appreciated the rapid pace that the case had taken.
“Some of these occurrences take months to reach this status,” he said. “I thank the police and mayor’s office for their cooperation and assistance to us and for the quick resolution.”
Crump, the lawyer representing Massey’s family, said in a statement on Wednesday that the charges were a “step toward justice” for the family, especially her children.
“Today marks an important milestone in the pursuit of justice for Sonya Massey’s family,” Mr. Crump said in the statement. “While nothing can undo the heinous actions of this officer, we hope the scales of justice will continue to hold him accountable and we will demand transparency at every step.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also expressed appreciation for the quick work on the case.
“My heart breaks for Sonya’s children, for her family and friends and for all who knew and loved her, and I am enraged that another innocent Black woman had her life taken from her at the hands of a police officer,” he said in a statement.
Peaceful protesters, many carrying signs with messages against the use of deadly force by authorities, stood outside public buildings last week.
In response, the city of Springfield and Springfield Police Department asked for patience as the case is investigated.
“In these challenging times, we encourage our community members to continue exercising their constitutional rights peacefully” they said in a joint statement. “Your voices are vital, and your support is crucial as we navigate this difficult period together. We are dedicated to maintaining the trust and safety of our cherished community.”
Crump represented the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, among others. Floyd was an African American man who was murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis in 2020. And Taylor, also African American, was killed by police in Louisville, Ky., during a raid on her apartment.
Wilburn had lived and worked in the San Diego area for 35 years before retiring to Pine Bluff eight years ago.