I feel today is a victory for Sonya Massey and her family, because her killer was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The verdict was a big disappointment to her family, as a white officer named Sean Grayson was found guilty of second degree murder as opposed to first degree premeditated murder. After his conviction, one of Massey's cousins stated to the press "“The justice system did exactly what it’s designed to do today. It’s not meant for us,” her cousin Sontae Massey said after the verdict. Regarding today's sentence, Sonya Massey's daughter felt twenty years was inadequate, however, this was the maximum for a second degree conviction.
The murder occurred in Springfield, Illinois on July, 6, 2024. Sonya Massey, a black woman called the police for help, fearing a person was prowling around her house. Sean Grayson, along with a partner went to investigate after the call. Later, Grayson enters her home, eventually notices a pan with steam coming from it, and ordered Sonya Massey to remove it from a stove. The Associated Press reports "She laughingly asked Grayson why he was backing away. He said he was trying to avoid the “hot, steaming water.” Massey responded, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson wrote in an incident report, “I interpreted this to mean she was going to kill me.” He was essentially triggered by the dangerous "J" word, "Jesus".
The incident was on bodycam. I played that video numerous times, slowing it down, and never saw an indication of Sonya Massey attempting to throw the pan at Grayson.
Her family is disappointed that his sentence was not of a first degree murder conviction, and that is perfectly understandable. But in some ways, it is a victory because Grayson got the maximum on his conviction for killing an innocent woman, who never meant any harm to him.
Little wonder there is so much mistrust of police in the black community, because mistrust is mandatory if we want to enhance our chances of survival. White officers, are often intolerant when approaching black people, make racist assumptions, and often assume the worse when approaching a scene or situation.
