Sangamon County has reached a $10 million settlement with the family of Sonya Massey, a Springfield woman shot and killed by a deputy last July after she called 911 for help.
In a memo obtained by WCIA, Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter assured that the county would not raise taxes, take on additional debt, or cut services to fund the settlement. “No price paid can take back the actions of a rogue former deputy, but this agreement is an effort to provide some measure of recompense to the Massey family for their unimaginable loss,” Van Meter stated. He also emphasized the county’s commitment to strengthening policies to prevent similar tragedies.
Massey, who was experiencing a mental health crisis, was killed by Deputy Sean Grayson in the early hours of July 6 after she moved a pot of boiling water from her stove. Body camera footage captured the moments leading to her fatal shooting. Following public outrage, Grayson was fired, indicted for first-degree murder, and has pleaded not guilty.
The fallout from the incident extended to law enforcement leadership. Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell retired in August after receiving widespread criticism from Massey’s family and political figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris.
In response to the shooting, the Sonya Massey Commission was formed to address policing practices and systemic racism. JoAnn Johnson, co-chair of the commission, stated that the settlement will not affect their work, emphasizing, “We have so many different things that we were trying to address.”
Link: WGNTV
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