Here is video from the body-worn cameras of two Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies who entered Sonya Massey’s Woodside Township home on July 6. Massey, 36, received a fatal head wound, allegedly from a 9mm handgun fired by Deputy Sean Grayson. Grayson, 30, has been charged with first-degree murder in the incident, and authorities have said […]
Dean Olsen
Dean Olsen is a senior staff writer for Illinois Times. He can be reached at:
dolsen@illinoistimes.com, 217-679-7810 or @DeanOlsenIT.
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Peace march planned after bodycam footage release
A “peace march” has been scheduled for 3 p.m. July 22 in Springfield after the 2 p.m. release of body-worn camera video of the police-involved shooting of Sonya Massey. The march, organized by nonprofit Intricate Minds on behalf of the Massey family, will begin outside Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 904 S. Martin Luther King Drive, […]
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‘Red flags’ surrounded hiring of alleged killer
On a day when a nationally known civil rights attorney said the scheduled July 22 release of body-worn camera footage of the death of Sonya Massey will shock the country, her father questioned whether the Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy who allegedly shot her should have been hired in the first place. “They were all these […]
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Argument about pot of water leads to murder charges
A Sangamon County deputy sheriff fired his gun three times at Sonya Massey in her home after the unarmed 36-year-old woman held her hands in the air, told him “I’m sorry” and ducked for cover behind a counter. That information was part of the successful argument a Sangamon County assistant state’s attorney used July 18 […]
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Murder charges filed against sheriff’s deputy
A 30-year-old Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy was indicted July 17 on first-degree murder charges in the July 6 shooting death of Sonya Massey. Sean Grayson is in police custody, has been fired by the sheriff’s department and will make his first court appearance on July 18, when he will be arraigned on three counts of […]
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City council moves Frito-Lay project forward, despite objections from neighbors
Almost two dozen neighbors of what is expected to be a large Frito-Lay distribution center along Interstate 55 near the Chatham exit left a Springfield City Council meeting frustrated July 16. The council voted 6-3 in favor of zoning variances allowing the project to move forward. Voting in favor were Alds. Chuck Redpath of Ward […]
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Protests continue following death of Sonya Massey
Less than a month ago, Sonya Massey was acting “extremely paranoid” and had voiced concerns for months “about being killed by the police,” her cousin, Sontae Massey, told Illinois Times. Sontae Massey said July 11 that he is not sure why his 36-year-old cousin was exhibiting such anxiety. But Sontae Massey, 53, a manager for […]
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Probe into shooting of Sonya Massey complete
The Illinois State Police investigation into the July 6 shooting death of Sonya Massey at the hands of Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies is complete. And Massey’s family plans to meet with ISP officials and the Sangamon County state’s attorney the afternoon of July 17 at the Springfield NAACP building at 801 S. 11th St. to […]
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Protesters demand release of video in Black woman’s death
As recently as two weeks ago, Sonya Massey was acting “extremely paranoid” and had voiced concerns for months “about being killed by the police,” her cousin, Sontae Massey, told Illinois Times. Sontae Massey said July 11 that he is not sure why his 36-year-old cousin was exhibiting such anxiety. But Sontae Massey, 53, a manager […]
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Partial closure for Interurban Trail
A two-mile section of the Interurban Trail used by bicyclists, walkers and runners will be closed until September because of earth-moving work at the future site of Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe. The closure is needed because contractors are removing dirt from the north side of the site and using it to raise the […]
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Sam McCann sentenced to 42 months
Former Illinois state senator and gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann’s criminal misuse of more than $630,000 in campaign funds justified a 3½-year prison sentence and contradicted his stated dedication to serving the public, a federal judge said July 9. “You knew exactly what you were doing, all the while holding yourself out as a God-fearing man […]
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DCFS finds foster parent negligent in death of 7-year-old boy
The state’s child welfare agency has found a Springfield man negligent in the March 16 drowning death of a 7-year-old foster child in the man’s care. An investigation completed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on June 28 concluded that neglect by David Yankee led to the death of Barrett Koches, DCFS […]
