CRIME & LAW

Prosecutor, Defense Clash in Sonya Massey Trial

At the Peoria trial of Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, prosecutors said he ignored training and unlawfully killed Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who had called 911 from her home. Grayson, charged with three counts of first-degree murder, pleaded not guilty. Jurors will see body-camera video that prosecutors say shows Massey posed no threat; the defense says she raised a pot of hot water and that deadly force was reasonable. Evidence included delayed collection of a casing and the pan. The 2024 killing has spurred scrutiny of police shootings and prompted a transparency change in Illinois law.

Reviewed by JQJO team

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