The trial of a former Illinois deputy who is accused of killing Sonya Massey began on Monday in Peoria, Illinois.
Massey, a Black 36-year-old mother of two, was fatally shot in July 2024 after calling authorities to her Springfield home over concerns about a prowler, officials said. Body camera footage shows two deputies responding to the incident, including then-Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson.
Grayson, who is white, shot at Massey three times, saying in a report written after the incident that he feared bodily harm because she was holding a pot of boiling water and said, "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus." Massey's autopsy report confirmed she died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Almost two weeks after Massey's killing, 31-year-old Grayson was fired and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery, and one count of official misconduct. He pleaded not guilty and was held in jail pending trial. Prosecutors have since dropped the two lesser charges.
Grayson’s trial started on Monday with a jury of 10 women and five men sworn in, including alternates. No cameras were allowed in the courtroom, and the trial is expected to last a week and a half.
On Monday, Grayson appeared in court wearing a navy blue suit, a striped tie, loafers and glasses. He sat unbound at the table between is lawyers in the presence of the jurors, sat up straight and was attentive to the questions being asked. Massey’s father, James Wilburn sat in the mostly-empty courtroom gallery.
Lawyers representing the family said in a statement that as the trial begins, “The family of Sonya Massey continues to grieve her senseless death but also is fiercely committed being present throughout the trial as they continue their hope for full justice for Sonya.”
Massey's killing ignited a national firestorm, prompting protesters across the country to call for justice for Massey, who had mental health issues, according to her family.
Her death raised new questions about U.S. law enforcement shootings of Black people in their homes and it prompted a change in Illinois law requiring fuller transparency on the background of candidates for law enforcement jobs.
In February, Sangamon County officials agreed to pay a $10 million settlement to Massey's family, a step their attorney, Ben Crump, called "only the first step in the journey for justice.”
In April, a judge granted a venue change for the trial from Sangamon County to Peoria after receiving a request from defense attorneys who said media coverage and the nature of the case have "shaped public perception, making it difficult to separate fact from speculation," NBC Chicago reported.
Most of the jurors told the judge they had heard of the case from previous media coverage, but said it would not impact their ability to deliver an impartial verdict
A group of people rallied outside the Peoria County Courthouse on Monday morning, holding signs calling for justice for Massey. One sign read: "Unite Now Against Racist Violence."
"No justice, no peace. Prosecute the police," the crowd chanted.
Keri Hayes, the racial justice committee chairwoman for the American Civil Liberties Union in Peoria, was one of the handful of people outside the courthouse.
"I really feel like it was a senseless slaying that happened, and I really want to see the police being held accountable," she told NBC News.
