In this episode, Ally covers the killing of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two who called 911 for help and was shot in her own kitchen by Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson. This episode focuses first on who Sonya was, then walks through the encounter minute by minute, the body cam footage, what her family says they were initially told, the national outcry that followed, and where the case stands now.

Story starts: 6:52

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Resources / ways to support:

• Justice for Sonya Massey GoFundMe
• The Massey Commission, Sangamon County
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
• Local and national police accountability and civil rights organizations

Sources:

• Associated Press, “A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy is sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing Sonya Massey”
• Associated Press, “Jurors convict Illinois deputy of killing Sonya Massey but can’t agree on first-degree murder charge”
• Associated Press, “Lawyers for Sonya Massey’s family say $10M settlement ‘first step;’ await trial, legislative changes”
• Associated Press, “Sonya Massey shooting prompts Illinois law requiring disclosure of police recruits’ backgrounds”
• Associated Press, “DOJ demands records from Illinois sheriff after killing of Sonya Massey”
• People, “Sonya Massey’s Children, 17 and 15, Are Taking It a ‘Day at a Time’ After Mom Was Killed by Police, Says Uncle (Exclusive)”
• People, “Sonya Massey’s Father Says Family Was Misled About Daughter’s Death Before Body Cam Reveal”
• Sangamon County, “Sonya Massey Information”
• Legacy.com obituary for Sonya Lynaye Wilburn-Massey
• Reuters, “Former Illinois sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 20 years in shooting of unarmed Black woman”