Family pained by trial testimony that first aid could have prevented Sonya Massey’s death in cop shooting
Introduction to the Case
The cousin of a Springfield-area woman shot by an ex-cop accused of her murder said Friday he was devastated to learn his relative could have survived her gunshot wounds had first aid been administered sooner. Former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson is facing three counts of first-degree murder for killing Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman, in her kitchen after she had called police to report a prowler.
Testimony and Evidence
On Thursday, a forensics expert testifying on behalf of the prosecution said one of three bullets Grayson fired hit Massey in her eye but didn’t touch her brain. Dr. Nathaniel Patterson said the bullet instead severed her carotid artery. Patterson, who performed the autopsy on Massey, testified she could have survived if someone on the scene had controlled her bleeding quickly.
Family Reaction
Massey’s cousin Sontae Massey said that realization is painful. “Knowing that my cousin could be here right now, it’s just devastating. I mean, not only to me, obviously, but to my entire family. We want Sonya to be still here,” Massey told reporters after court adjourned Friday. “I still think about Sonya every day and want to call her every day. That could have happened if [the responding officers] just did their jobs.”
Body-Worn Camera Footage
Body-worn camera footage from Grayson, as well as the other deputy who was on the scene, shows Grayson initially discouraging his partner from retrieving a medical kit from his car right after Massey was shot. “Nah, it’s a head shot, dude, she’s done,” Grayson said on the footage.
Trial and National Attention
Friday marked the end of the first week of a murder trial in a case that has drawn national attention for its racial dynamics. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has worked with the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, helped the Massey family secure a $10 million settlement with Sangamon County. He’s expected to attend the trial next week. Grayson, who is white, contends he shot Massey in self-defense. His defense team argues Massey was a threat for not following “firm and unequivocal” orders to put down a pot of boiling water.
Jury Reaction to Evidence
Earlier in the week, jurors saw the harrowing footage of that fatal interaction from Grayson and his partner’s body cameras. During the 36-minute long video, Grayson can be seen yelling profanities at Massey and threatening to shoot her in her face before firing his weapon at her three times. Massey then falls to her kitchen floor as blood pools around her. When the jury watched the video, some jurors recoiled in their chairs. One sobbed and held up her notebook to block her line of vision of the courtroom’s video screen. The jury’s only Black member bowed his head at the floor after seeing the gunshots and did not watch the rest of the video.
Conclusion
The trial of Sean Grayson has brought to light the tragic events surrounding the death of Sonya Massey, highlighting issues of racial dynamics, police conduct, and the importance of timely first aid. The case continues to draw national attention, with many awaiting the outcome of the trial. The Massey family and their supporters hope that justice will be served, bringing some measure of closure to a painful and devastating loss.
FAQs
Q: What are the charges against Sean Grayson?
A: Sean Grayson is facing three counts of first-degree murder for the death of Sonya Massey.
Q: What did the forensics expert testify regarding Sonya Massey’s death?
A: The forensics expert, Dr. Nathaniel Patterson, testified that Sonya Massey could have survived her gunshot wounds if someone on the scene had controlled her bleeding quickly.
Q: How has the Massey family been affected by the trial?
A: The Massey family has been deeply affected by the trial, with Sontae Massey expressing devastation at the realization that his cousin could have survived with timely first aid. The family has to relive the tragedy every day, and the trial has been an emotional ordeal for them.
Q: What is the significance of the body-worn camera footage in the trial?
A: The body-worn camera footage shows the events leading up to the shooting, including Grayson discouraging his partner from retrieving a medical kit, which has been a crucial piece of evidence in the trial.
Q: How has the case drawn national attention?
A: The case has drawn national attention due to its racial dynamics, with Grayson being white and Massey being Black, and the involvement of civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has worked on similar high-profile cases.
