Opinion | Sonya Massey Death: Why the Second Officer Should Not Get Off Scot-Free
“The second deputy had a duty to protect Sonya Massey from his rogue fellow officer. Not only did he fail to do this, he joined Grayson in creating the false impression that Massey was dangerous.”
[Note: The article assumes a basic knowledge of the Sonya Massey case. The purpose of this commentary is to consider the role of Sean Grayson’s partner in enabling the killing of Sonya Massey.]
The killing of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old unarmed Black woman on July 6, 2024, by Sheriff deputy Sean Grayson is one of the most disturbing police killings caught on camera. Massey had called the police to her home in Springfield, Illinois because she was worried that there was a prowler outside her property.
Shortly after two white officers entered her home, one of them, Deputy Sean Grayson, ordered Massey to turn off her stove where there was a pot of boiling water. While Massey was following his instructions, Grayson bizarrely implied that Massey was about to throw the boiling water on him. He then shot the terrified woman in the face, while she cowered to the ground, turning the previously polite interaction into a literal bloodbath.
“The second officer appears to have evaded scrutiny and accountability regarding his involvement in the incident.”
Sean Grayson has been appropriately charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, and one count of official misconduct. However, the second officer appears to have evaded scrutiny and accountability regarding his involvement in the incident. Indeed, his actions have been framed by much of the media in a benign light, simply because he had his body camera on and attempted to provide “medical aid” to Sonya Massey. But doesn’t he bear some responsibility for allowing his colleague to shoot an unarmed woman in the face?
Consider that instead of engaging in the façade of providing assistance after Massey was fatally wounded, the second deputy could have saved her life by preventing his unhinged colleague from shooting her. Had he instructed Sean Grayson to stop pointing the gun, Grayson would have thought twice about firing his weapon, and Massey might be alive today.
“They both implied that Massey posed a threat.”
Additionally, it is worth noting that Sean Grayson was not alone in fabricating the all-too-familiar narrative that the officers “feared for their lives.” Reports indicate that when Sonya Massey complied with Sean Grayson’s command to attend to the boiling water, both deputies retreated from the kitchen area. Thus, they both implied that Massey posed a threat, even though she remained courteous and cooperative throughout the interaction. Furthermore, when Grayson loudly insinuated that Massey was about to throw boiling water at him, his colleague joined him in pointing a second weapon at the unarmed woman.
“The second officer had a Norse tattoo on his forearm. Such symbols are increasingly being adopted by white supremacist groups.”
Moreover, it should be noted that the second officer had a Norse tattoo on his forearm. Such symbols are increasingly being adopted by white supremacist groups. Given the second officer’s apparent indifference with regard to Sonya Massey’s safety and his collusion with Grayson, it appears reasonable to conclude that his actions (and inactions) may have been motivated by racial bias.
Yes, Sean Grayson — who has been described as a bully — was the primary aggressor; he seemingly viewed Massey, a Black woman, as fair game to act out his violent impulses. But, ultimately, the second deputy had a duty to protect Sonya Massey from his rogue fellow officer. Not only did he fail to do this, he joined Grayson in creating the false impression that Massey was dangerous, effectively endorsing Grayson’s deplorable actions. The fact that Sean Grayson has been charged with first-degree murder is a step in the right direction, however, his partner enabled Grayson’s reckless decisions, and should not get off scot-free.
