The first day of testimony has ended in the trial of ex-sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, who faces murder charges for fatally shooting a Black woman in her Illinois home after she called 911 for help.
Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old single mother of two teenagers, called emergency responders on July 6, 2024, over a suspected prowler on her property in Springfield. Grayson, a Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy at the time, responded to the scene with his partner, Dawson Farley. Body camera footage shows Grayson firing at Massey after telling her to drop a pot of hot water.
Farley testified Wednesday that he went to retrieve a first aid kit after the shooting, but Grayson told him it wasn’t necessary because Massey had been shot in the head, according to WAND News. Farley also testified that he did not feel afraid of Massey and did not think she would hurt him, WICS reports.
Grayson yawned multiple times as body camera footage of the shooting was played in court, according to WICS. Meanwhile, members of Massey’s family cried, and some left the courtroom.
Grayson, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
Key Points
- Recap: First day of testimony ends in Sean Grayson's trial
- Sonya Massey killed in her own home after calling 911
- Grayson's partner testifies ex-deputy told him there was no need for first aid after shooting
- Body camera footage shows moments before Sonya Massey was killed
- Lesser charges against Sean Grayson dropped
Recap: First day of testimony ends in Sean Grayson's trial
21:51
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Katie Hawkinson
The first day of testimony has ended in the murder trial of Sean Grayson, an ex-sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot Sonya Massey in her Springfield, Illinois, home last year after she called 911 about a potential prowler.
After opening statements, several witnesses testified Wednesday, including Illinois State Police investigator Eric Weston, who said he reviewed the scene and the body camera footage. Sangamon County Dispatcher Kathryn Barton also testified about Massey’s 911 call.
Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Dawson Farley, who responded to Massey’s home with Grayson, also took the stand.
Farley testified that he went to retrieve a first aid kit after the shooting, but Grayson told him it wasn’t necessary because Massey had been shot in the head, according to WAND News. Farley also testified that he did not feel afraid of Massey and did not think she would hurt him, WICS reports.
The defense noted that Farley originally wrote in his report that he drew his weapon because he was concerned about the boiling water Massey was holding, WAND News reports. Farley later clarified his report and said he drew his weapon “out of fear from the defendant's actions.”
The audio of Massey’s 911 call, as well as the body camera footage from the shooting, played in court today. Grayson yawned multiple times as the body camera footage played, while some members of Massey’s family cried and left the courtroom, WISC reports.
Grayson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges. The trial began earlier this week with jury selection. The jury is made up of nine white women, two white men and one Black man. The alternate jurors are two white men and one white woman.
Grayson’s trial will continue on Thursday morning at 9 a.m. local time.
Coverage paused
22:04
,
Katie Hawkinson
Court has adjourned for the day, and this live blog is now paused.
Sean Grayson’s trial will continue Thursday morning at 9 a.m.
Retired chief deputy said Sean Grayson violated department policies
21:21
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Katie Hawkinson
Retired chief deputy Anthony Mayfield testified today that he determined ex-sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson violated several policies.
Mayfield said these included use of force and medical response policies, according to WICS.
Former chief deputy takes the stand
21:11
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Katie Hawkinson
Anthony Mayfield, a retired chief deputy for the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department, is now on the stand.
Mayfield was the chief sheriff’s deputy when Sonya Massey was killed.
Sonya Massey's mother in tears after body camera footage played in court
21:01
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Katie Hawkinson
Sonya Massey’s mother, Donna Massey, is crying and being consoled by her family after the body camera footage was played in court.
While it played, Donna Massey buried her head and covered her eyes, WICS reports.
Grayson's body camera footage plays
20:46
,
Katie Hawkinson
Sean Grayson’s body camera footage is now playing in court.
The footage begins when Grayson drew his weapon.
After shooting Massey, the footage shows Grayson dropping his medical bag on her living room floor and saying, "I'm not even going to waste my med stuff then,” according to WICS. His partner, Dawson Farley, described that moment earlier today.
Grayson reacts as body cam footage played in court
20:27
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Katie Hawkinson
The body camera footage that shows Sean Grayson shooting Sonya Massey is now playing in court.
Grayson yawned several times while watching, WICS reports. At one point, he leaned forward and looked between the ground and the screen.
Grayson didn’t watch as the footage showed him shouting at Massey to drop the pot of hot water, per WICS. Members of Massey’s family cried as the footage showed Grayson’s partner, Dawson Farley, holding a rag to her gunshot wound.
Body camera footage plays in court
20:09
,
Katie Hawkinson
Footage from the body camera worn by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Dawson Farley is now being played in court.
Sonya Massey's cousin left courtroom in tears
20:01
,
Katie Hawkinson
Sonya Massey’s cousin left the courtroom in tears today as Sean Grayson’s partner, Dawson Farley, testified, according to WICS.
Defense cross-examines Grayson's partner
19:56
,
Katie Hawkinson
Defense attorney Daniel Fultz is cross-examining Dawson Farley, who responded to Sonya Massey’s home alongside Sean Grayson.
Fultz pointed out that Farley filed an initial report about the incident on July 9, 2024, but reached out to the Illinois State Police to amend the report a month later, on August 6, local outlet WICS reports. Grayson was indicted on July 17.
Earlier, Farley said he wanted to clarify that Massey wasn’t holding the pot of hot water at chest level, according to WAND News. Farley said he also initially reported that he drew his gun because he was worried about Massey, but later clarified that he drew his gun “out of fear from the defendant's actions.”
Grayson's partner testifies he was not threatened by Sonya Massey
19:44
,
Katie Hawkinson
Sheriff’s Deputy Dawson Farley told the court he never felt afraid of Sonya Massey and was not concerned she would hurt him.
Farley said he only drew his gun “out of fear from the defendant's actions,” according to WAND News.
“I just wanted to do right by Sonya and her family and tell the truth,” Farley said.
Grayson's partner testifies ex-deputy told him there was no need for first aid after shooting
19:38
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Katie Hawkinson
Sheriff’s Deputy Dawson Farley testified Sean Grayson told him first aid wasn’t needed after he shot Sonya Massey.
After the shooting, Farley told the court he ran to the doorway to tell dispatch what happened and attempted to get a medical bag, according to WAND News. When he did so, Grayson told him first aid wasn’t necessary because she was shot in the head, Farley testified.
“I was caught off guard by the comment, it wasn’t our training,” Farley reportedly said in court.
Farley said he performed first aid while Grayson got his own first aid kit. Another sergeant then said nothing could be done, and Grayson said he wasn’t going to waste his medical supplies, Farley testified.
Farley also testified that Massey was still breathing as this happened.
Grayson's partner describes moment of shooting
19:36
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Katie Hawkinson
Sheriff’s Deputy Dawson Farley described the moments leading up to his partner, Sean Grayson, shooting Sonya Massey.
Farley said Grayson drew his gun after Massey said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Farley explained that he then drew his gun too, because he was following his training to back up his partner, WICS reports.
Farley says he saw Massey duck behind the counter afterward. Farley testified he saw Grayson step in front of him, heard the word “drop,” then heard shots being fired.
Grayson's partner says he didn't see Sonya Massey's remark as a threat
19:27
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Katie Hawkinson
Sheriff’s Deputy Dawson Farley, who responded to Sonya Massey’s home with Sean Grayson, testified that he didn’t see her remarks in the moments leading up to the shooting as a threat.
Moments before Massey was shot, she was holding a pot of hot water and told the deputies, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson later said he thought this remark meant Massey intended to kill him.
Farley testified that Massey’s remark confused him but that he did not see her comment as a threat, local outlet WICS reports.
Grayson's ex-partner describes their working relationship
19:20
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Katie Hawkinson
Sheriff’s Deputy Dawson Farley testified today that he would describe his relationship with Sean Grayson as a “work friendship,” according to local outlet WICS.
Farley responded to Sonya Massey’s home with Grayson last summer.
Sean Grayson's former partner testifies
19:08
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Katie Hawkinson
Sheriff’s Deputy Dawson Farley is now testifying.
Farley was Sean Grayson’s partner and responded to Sonya Massey’s home with him last year.
Recap: Defense attorney notes state investigators didn't initially collect Sonya Massey's pot of water
18:57
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Katie Hawkinson
Defense attorney Mark Wykoff asked Illinois State Police investigator Eric Weston about the pot of hot water Sonya Massey was holding moments before ex-sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson shot her.
Weston testified that investigators did not go to the scene to retrieve the pot until weeks after the shooting.
“You knew an hour after the event occurred that the pot was basically employed as a weapon, but you didn’t collect it then,” Wykoff said, according to the Associated Press. “You didn’t collect it during the second search when the third casing was collected. You collected it about two weeks later.”
Body camera footage of the moments before the shooting shows Massey holding the pot of water and saying, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson later said he thought Massey’s remark meant she intended to kill him. He yelled for her to drop the pot and fired three shots moments later.
Recap: Prosecutor says Sean Grayson 'did not follow his training'
18:32
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Katie Hawkinson
Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser told the jury during his opening statement that ex-sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson did not follow his training when he shot Sonya Massey.
“She’s a little scattered, but she’s nice and kind and talking to him and you’ll see that interaction,” Milhiser said, per the Associated Press. “You will see what happens when the defendant gets mad at a woman who is in her kitchen and has called for help. He gets mad and shoots and kills her without lawful justification.”
“He did not follow his training,” he added. “He did not follow police principles.”
Who has testified so far today?
18:19
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Katie Hawkinson
Two witnesses have testified so far in Sean Grayson’s murder trial.
First was Illinois State Police investigator Eric Weston. He testified that he visited the scene of the shooting and reviewed body camera footage from both officers.
Kathryn Barton, a Sangamon County dispatcher, also testified. Sonya Massey called 911 to report a potential prowler on her Springfield, Illinois, property.
“It sounded like there was someone outside the residence making noise on the side of the house,” Barton testified, according to WICS.
Massey’s 911 call audio was then played for the court.
Watch: Body camera footage shows moments before Sonya Massey was killed
17:40
,
Katie Hawkinson
Court breaks for lunch
17:16
,
Katie Hawkinson
The court is now on a lunch break. Testimony is set to resume at 1 p.m. local time.
911 call played in court
17:14
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Katie Hawkinson
Kathryn Barton, a Sangamon County dispatcher, is testifying in court.
Massey called 911 to report a suspected prowler the night she was killed.
“It sounded like there was someone outside the residence making noise on the side of the house,” Barton testified, according to WICS.
The audio of Massey’s 911 call was then played in court.
County dispatcher called to stand
17:01
,
Katie Hawkinson
Prosecutors have called Kathryn Barton, a Sangamon County dispatcher, to the stand.
Court in recess
16:54
,
Katie Hawkinson
Illinois State Police investigator Eric Weston has finished testifying.
The court is now on a short break as prosecutors prepare to call a second witness.
Illinois State Police investigator describes Sean Grayson's training
16:40
,
Katie Hawkinson
Illinois State Police investigator Eric Weston testified that Sean Grayson took a Crisis Intervention Training course in 2023, WICS reports.
He noted that Grayson worked in six different departments between 2020 and 2024.
Illinois State Police investigator cross-examined
16:37
,
Katie Hawkinson
Defense attorney Mark Wykoff is now cross-examining Illinois State Police investigator Eric Weston.
Wykoff noted that Weston wasn’t present for the whole investigation, but rather supervised it, WICS reports.
Prosecutor John Milhiser also objected to one of Wykoff’s questions about Weston forming assumptions about the incident based on the body camera footage. Wykoff rephrased, and the initial question was struck from the record, according to WICS.
State police investigator describes chaotic scene in aftermath of shooting
16:19
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Katie Hawkinson
Illinois State Police investigator Eric Weston described the immediate aftermath of Sean Grayson shooting Sonya Massey.
Weston said he arrived at Massey’s home around 3 a.m. He testified that “not a lot was known,” but was told an officer fired his gun after a pot of water was thrown at him, according to WAND News.
Weston explained that the officers involved were required to take blood and urine tests, as well as turn over their body cameras.
The subsequent investigation was “all hands on deck,” Weston said.
State investigator recounts watching body camera footage
16:05
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Katie Hawkinson
Illinois State Police investigator Eric Weston told the court he reviewed the body camera footage from Sean Grayson and his partner, Deputy Dawson Farley, shortly after the shooting.
Weston testified that, after watching the footage, he couldn’t immediately determine whether Grayson was justified in firing at Sonya Massey, WICS reports. Weston said he then told Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser about the incident.
First witness called
15:52
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Katie Hawkinson
Prosecutors have called Illinois State Police investigator Eric Weston to the stand.
Weston testified that he’s supervised investigations into more than a dozen officer-involved shootings, local outlet WICS reports.
Sean Grayson's partner to testify
15:47
,
Katie Hawkinson
Several witnesses are expected to testify today in Sean Grayson’s murder trial, including Deputy Dawson Farley.
Farley was Grayson’s partner and responded to Sonya Massey’s home with him last year.
Illinois State Police investigator Eric Weston is also expected to testify.
Defense gives opening statement
15:34
,
Katie Hawkinson
Sean Grayson’s defense attorney, Daniel Fultz, is addressing the jury now, according to WICS.
"There is no crime if you decide the shooting was lawful,” he told the jury.
Fultz addressed the pot of hot water Sonya Massey was handling moments before she was killed.
Body camera footage from that night shows Grayson ordering Massey to remove a pot of hot water from her stove.
When Grayson moved away, Massey asked him why. He said that he was trying to avoid the hot water, and Massey responded: “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson later said he interpreted this to mean “she was going to kill me,” according to the Associated Press.
Grayson then told Massey to drop the pot. She put the pot down and apologized, but appeared to pick it up again in the confusion as Grayson shouted, the AP reports. Shortly afterward, Grayson fired three shots at Massey.
"The evidence will show, even though his orders were firm, unequivocal, and repeated, Ms Massey made the decision to lift the pot of boiling water over her head and throw it at Deputy Grayson,” Fultz told the jury. “It was only at that moment that Deputy Grayson discharged his weapon."
Prosecution gives opening statement
15:19
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Katie Hawkinson
Sangamon County State Attorney John Milhiser has started his opening statement.
Milhiser walked the jury through a timeline of the shooting and explained the first-degree murder charges against Sean Grayson, according to local outlet WICS.
“It will be clear that the defendant, without lawful justification, in the home of Sonya Massey, shot and killed her,” Milhiser said in court. “He did not follow training, he did not follow policies, and is guilty of first-degree murder."
Judge and jury enter courtroom
15:12
,
Katie Hawkinson
Judge Ryan Cadagin and the jury have entered the courtroom, according to local media reports.
Opening statements are set to begin shortly.
Sonya Massey's family arrives in court
15:00
,
Katie Hawkinson
Thirteen of Sonya Massey’s friends and family members have arrived in court, according to local media outlet WICS.
This group includes her mother, Donna Massey, and her aunt, Ramona Massey.
Nine of Sean Grayson’s family and friends have also arrived.
Lesser charges against Sean Grayson dropped
14:56
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Katie Hawkinson
Sean Grayson, the 31-year-old former deputy on trial for Sonya Massey’s murder, was initially charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery and official misconduct.
However, a judge agreed to drop the aggravated battery and official misconduct charges on Tuesday, CBS Chicago reports. Grayson will now be tried only on three counts of first-degree murder.
He has pleaded not guilty.
Watch: Body camera footage shows moments before Sonya Massey was killed
14:48
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Katie Hawkinson
Jurors sworn in earlier this week
14:15
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Katie Hawkinson
The jury — which is made up of 10 women and five men, including three alternates – was sworn in earlier this week.
They’ll be hearing testimony over the next week and a half. Opening statements are set to begin later this morning.
Opening statements to begin in the murder trial of Sonya Massey
14:00
,
Mike Bedigan
Opening statements are due to begin in the trial of an Illinois police officer who fatally shot a Black woman in her own home, after she called 911 for help.
Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old single mother of two teenagers, called emergency responders on July 6 2024 over a suspected prowler at her property in Springfield – and killed following an apparent misunderstanding over a hot pan of water.
Sean Grayson, 31, a former deputy for the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department in central Illinois, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder over the incident.
Grayson, who is white has pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
Follow along with The Independent’s live coverage here.