The murder trial of a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman, in her Springfield home last summer is slated to begin on Monday.
Sean Grayson, 30, faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct for the July 6, 2024, shooting of Massey, 36, who had called 911 to report a suspected prowler. It has garnered international attention as an example of police shootings involving people of color.
In April, a judge granted the request by defense attorneys for the trial to be moved out of the capital city to Peoria because of intense publicity.
In their motion to change the trial’s location, Grayson’s lawyers, Mark Wykoff and Daniel Fultz, argued that international news coverage, activists’ rallies, and a $10 million civil-court settlement between Sangamon County and Massey’s family all have contributed to “an overwhelming and emotional response” in a “close-knit community.”
“The high-profile nature of the case, combined with continuous media coverage, has shaped public perception, making it difficult to separate fact from speculation … ,” the motion read. “Virtually everyone in the county is aware of the case, and many have already formed strong opinions regarding the defendant’s guilt or innocence.”
During April’s hearing, Massey’s family and supporters filled half the public section of the courtroom, as they have for every court hearing since Grayson’s indictment,
“Location does not change the outcome,” local activist Teresa Haley said after the hearing. “He assassinated her, and I think anybody in America will agree that he should be sentenced to life, so that’s what we’re going for.”
Grayson is being held without bond despite a state appellate court ruling that the Pre-Trial Fairness Act, which eliminated cash bond in Illinois, dictates that he should be released with certain conditions. The matter is before the state Supreme Court.
