Sonya Massey's family accuse cops of trying to cover-up her killing at the hands of white Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson after damning police dispatch audio reveals it was described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound

Sonya Massey's family judge that constabulary officers attempted to screen up nan serviceman progressive shooting that led to her decease by telling unit astatine an Illinois infirmary that nan mother-of-two changeable herself.

Massey, 36, called nan police to her location successful Springfield, Illinois, successful nan early hours of July 6 to study a prowler successful nan area. Two Sangamon County sheriff's deputies responded to nan call.

After a 30 infinitesimal hunt of nan area successful which they did not find a suspect, nan 2 went wrong Massey's location and engaged her conversation. As she boiled immoderate h2o successful a pot, Deputy Sean Grayson changeable her 3 times, sidesplitting her. 

The family's attorney, Ben Crump, said astatine a property convention held Tuesday that audio from nan dispatcher connected nan nighttime of nan shooting sees an serviceman declare that Massey's wounds were self-inflicted. This comes arsenic nan DOJ confirms an investigation is underway. 

Crump told nan property that nan Massey family only recovered retired done nan media that she had been changeable dormant by a sheriff's deputy. Another family personnel said they were told she was changeable by an intruder.   

'If it wasn't for nan camera footage, [law enforcement] would person lied their measurement retired of this,' Massey's grieving begetter James Wilburn said. 

Wilburn has besides called for Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell to resign. 

'I want to show y'all nan sheriff present is an embarrassment,' Wilburn said. 'This man (Grayson) should person ne'er had a badge. And he should person ne'er had a gun. He should person ne'er been fixed nan opportunity to termination my child.' 

A transcript from 911 scanner traffic from nan nighttime successful mobility sees 2 group discussing nan shooting successful which 1 person, who says that they are astatine nan scene, besides says that Massey died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

At Tuesday's property conference, Jimmie Crawford, nan begetter of Massey's daughter, said that he was told that a neighbour was nan perpetrator.  

Crump besides said Tuesday that fixed nan circumstances astir nan case, nan DOJ's engagement is welcomed. 

Both President Joe Biden and Democratic-nominee-in-waiting Vice President Kamala Harris person issued statements of support for nan Massey family. Harris called nan decease 'senseless.' 

Crump confirmed that arrangements are being made for Harris to meet pinch Massey's family. The lawyer described nan gathering betwixt Massey's mother and Illinois Governor JB Pritzkerand Lt. Gov Juliana Stratton, which was held successful a Baptist church. 

'They understood that oftentimes nan Sonya Masseys of nan world don't get owed process of nan law. And that they were committed to saying this would beryllium a adjacent and transparent investigation and process astatine each level,' he said. 

Grayson has since been fired and pleaded not blameworthy to charges of first grade murder.  

Crump did not corroborate aliases contradict that nan family will motorboat a civilian suit successful nan lawsuit but that they are exploring 'every imaginable ineligible remedy to get afloat justness for Sonya Massey.' 

Wilburn meantime reiterated his vexation that Grayson was hired by nan sheriff's section fixed that he had 2 DUI convictions connected his record. The erstwhile serviceman besides worked astatine galore constabulary departments successful conscionable a fewer years.  

In an question and reply pinch CBS News, Massey's son, 17, Malachi, and her mother, Donna, said that rule enforcement 'kept changing nan story' successful saying that nurses were told Massey had taken her ain life. 

Malachi said he watched nan opening nan assemblage camera video of nan shooting of his mother but didn’t decorativeness it. 'I don't person nary words for this,' he said.   

The mother-of-two's begetter first told nan nationalist that they were told Massey's decease was a termination astatine her funeral, which was held successful Springfield connected July 19. 

Sean Grayson's profession included short stints arsenic a part-time serviceman astatine 3 mini constabulary departments and a full-time occupation astatine a 4th section arsenic good arsenic moving afloat clip astatine 2 sheriff's offices, each successful cardinal Illinois. 

Sheriff's assemblage camera video released Monday confirmed prosecutors' earlier relationship of nan tense infinitesimal erstwhile Grayson yelled crossed a antagonistic astatine Massey to group down a cookware of basking water. 

 He past threatened to sprout nan unarmed woman, Massey ducked and concisely rose, and Grayson fired his pistol astatine her. Massey was deed 3 times, pinch a fatal changeable to her head.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board shows Grayson was hired portion clip connected Aug. 11, 2020, by nan Pawnee Police Department. 

 He besides was hired portion clip connected Feb. 4, 2021, by nan Kincaid Police Department and connected May 20, 2021, by nan Virden Police Department.

Two months later, he was hired afloat clip by nan Auburn Police Department and remained location until May 1, 2022, erstwhile he was hired afloat clip by nan Logan County Sheriff's Office. 

Grayson near Logan County connected April 28, 2023, and was hired afloat clip connected May 1, 2023, by nan Sangamon County Sheriff's Office.

He received his part-time Law Enforcement Certification connected June 5, 2021, according to nan Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. His certification position presently sounds arsenic suspended connected nan board's website.

Grayson's attorney, Daniel Fultz, declined comment. 

The family wants Congress to o.k. nan George Floyd Justice successful Policing Act and nan John Lewis Voting Rights Act, some of which U.S. House Democrats approved successful 2021 earlier nan authorities died successful nan Senate. 

The first intends to ace down connected constabulary misconduct, excessive unit and group bias successful rule enforcement, while nan voting authorities enactment would require section jurisdictions to activity national support earlier changing voting laws. 

'Every personnel of Congress needs to ballot coming truthful that cipher other successful this United States of America has to spell done what we're going through,' Wilburn said. 

Grayson was being held without enslaved successful nan Sangamon County Jail. If convicted, he faces situation sentences of 45 years to life for murder, six to 30 years for artillery and 2 to 5 years for misconduct.