DOJ Investigating Sonya Massey Shooting

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Facts

  • The US Justice Department (DOJ) has opened an official investigation into the fatal police shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black woman, at the hands of Sangamon County, Ill., Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson on July 6, 2024.[1][2]
  • While Grayson has been criminally charged with murder, the DOJ's investigation is focused on the sheriff's department, including its hiring practices, racial diversity in the department, and the decision to employ Grayson despite his prior record.[3]
  • Grayson had two DUIs (driving under the influence), including one that reportedly led to his dismissal from the military. He had worked for six police departments in the span of four years.[4][5]
  • The DOJ has requested access to all records related to the shooting and wants to know if the sheriff's office has or currently provides 'any form of alternative response models' with respect to 'behavioral health crises' or dealing with people who have such issues.[4]
  • Police body camera footage shows Massey, who suffered from mental issues, going to remove a pot of water from the stove. She then told Grayson, 'I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,' to which Grayson said she 'better not,' threatened to shoot her in the face, and then fired at least two shots.[1]
  • Grayson was fired from the department July 17, the same day he was charged with murder. The Sangamon Sheriff's Office has, along with government leaders, promised to cooperate fully with the DOJ investigation.[6]

Sources: [1]New York Times, [2]Associated Press, [3]CNN, [4]The State Journal, [5]The Hill and [6]Archive.

Narratives

  • Left narrative, as provided by Intercept and MSNBC. Massey's murder was the tragic culmination of years of Grayson being let off the hook, despite a history of violating people's civil rights and lying about drug arrests. Massey was the descendent of a Black man who was lynched by a white mob, and it appears the legal system is still promoting the same type of bigoted behavior.
  • Right narrative, as provided by City Journal and Youtube. These types of shootings go viral because of how rare they are. Police use of force makes up 0.1% of 911 calls and fatal shootings just 0.002%. Often the media creates fake statistics to drum up anti-police public sentiment, thereby making up for the rarity of these incidents. If the media weren't so dishonest, the police would have a better reputation.

Predictions