Raymond Massey, Sonya Massey’s uncle, claimed that the only objective of Sonya Massey’s life was to improve her own life and the lives of her two children. It was only lately that she had purchased a home, and she was eagerly anticipating what the future might have for her. On the other hand, everything changed on July 6, when a sheriff’s officer shot and killed a mother who was unarmed and 36 years old. She had called 911 because she was afraid that an intruder was inside her house.
Since that tragic day, the news of Massey’s murder has spread like wildfire over the internet. Raymond referred to their mother as “loving and caring.” Now, her family, which includes her son Malachi, who is 17 years old, and her daughter Summer, who is 15 years old, are attempting to come to terms with the unexpected loss of their daughter.
PEOPLE is told by Raymond, who is 64 years old, that “they are taking it a day at a time.” I mean, one minute at a time,” she said. It is a terrible thing for me, let alone for Donna, Summer, and Malachi, who are the children of Sonya’s mother.
Following that, he says, “It’s burning so deeply.” At the moment, each and every member of the family is going through that. But the children, you have to admit that’s a double-edged sword.
Raymond goes on to state that he has been in contact with the children, who are now being cared for by other relatives. He says, “Me and [Malachi] had a wonderful conversation about his mother and how much he misses his mother because she was murdered.” That is difficult for anybody, but it is especially difficult for a seventeen-year-old child who loved and cared for his mother.
The New York Times was able to secure video from the body camera of the Illinois State Police, which was published on Monday, July 22. The tape captures the events leading up to the dea.dly shot.
to around 12:50 a.m. on that particular morning, two officers from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office arrived to Sonya’s residence in response to her call. This takes place at the beginning of the video. Before knocking on Sonya’s door, they followed her inside and gathered her information while she was sitting on a sofa. It looked like they searched the front of her house as well as the rear when they arrived.
After Sonya got up to take a pot of boiling water from the stove, she rebuked the deputies by saying, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” However, Sean Grayson, one of the deputies, replied by saying that she “better not” and threatened her that he would shoot her in the face, as reported by the Times. In a matter of seconds, he pulled out his firearm, commanded the lady to let go of the pot she was carrying, and then proceeded to fire two bullets at her.
The accusations of first-degree murder, aggravated violence with a weapon, and official misconduct were brought against Grayson, 30, by a grand jury on July 17, according to the Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser, as reported by CNN, the Illinois Times, and NPR Illinois. Grayson was previously charged with official misconduct.
According to The Washington Post, Grayson has entered a plea of not guilty and is now being detained at the Menard County Detention Facility without the possibility of getting bail. Additionally, he was terminated from his position as a sheriff in Sangamon County, according to a statement issued by the agency in the past. It is not quite apparent if he is represented by an attorney.
James Wilburn, Sonya’s father, recently gave an interview to CBS Mornings in which he said that the family was “under the impression” that “she was killed by the intruder” and that police had discovered her passing. He also stated that the family was “never told” that the incident had been a police shot. According to him, they were even “misled” into believing that she had passed from “self-inflicted wounds that she had caused herself.”
Raymond claims that he had “anger and frustration” for the whole family once he viewed the film from the body camera and discovered the circumstances behind his niece’s loss.
According to what he says to People, “After this situation, we ought to be comforted.” After that, you are subjected to false information and falsehoods, which is quite painful.
The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement condemning Grayson’s behavior after the revelation of the accusations against him. The statement said that Grayson’s actions “do not reflect the values and training of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office or law enforcement as a whole.”
In an interview with People, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Massey family, said that they want Sonya’s legacy to be one that “helps finally get systematic police reform passed in America.”
Raymond expresses his grief to PEOPLE by saying, “It hurts me to see my family hurting so badly.” It is our hope that we will no longer be in pain, and that no other family will ever have to go through what we have been through.
PEOPLE are able to confirm that the Massey family has established a confirmed GoFundMe account in order to assist with covering expenditures associated with her passing, including those associated with mental health therapy, travel, and other associated expenses.
The fundraising website recalled her as a “devoted church member” and a mother who “loved cooking, doing hair, nurturing her children, and spending time with her family.” She was also remembered as a mother who “loved spending time with her family.”