{"id":2310149,"date":"2024-07-27T11:31:02","date_gmt":"2024-07-27T15:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2310149"},"modified":"2024-07-27T11:36:43","modified_gmt":"2024-07-27T15:36:43","slug":"autopsy-confirms-sonya-massey-died-from-gunshot-wound-to-head-as-attorney-calls-shooting-senseless-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/autopsy-confirms-sonya-massey-died-from-gunshot-wound-to-head-as-attorney-calls-shooting-senseless-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Autopsy confirms Sonya Massey died from gunshot wound to head, as attorney calls shooting senseless &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fautopsy-confirms-sonya-massey-died-from-gunshot-wound-to-head-as-attorney-calls-shooting-senseless-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2310149&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The autopsy report for Sonya\u200c Massey, a 36-year-old woman who was \u2063fatally shot by a former sheriff&#8217;s deputy in Springfield, \u2063Illinois, confirms she died from a gunshot wound to\u2064 the head. Civil rights attorney Ben \u200dCrump, \u200brepresenting Massey&#8217;s family, condemned the shooting as senseless\u2064 and excessive. The report noted that Massey had minor blunt force injuries alongside the fatal gunshot. The deputy, Sean Grayson, \u200bwho \u2064is\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/family-criminally-charged-after-turning-in-178-tons-of-recyclable-cans-and-bottles-california-didnt-like-this\/\" title=\"Family Arrested for Recycling 178 Tons - California Unhappy\">facing multiple charges including<\/a> first-degree\u2064 murder, has pleaded not guilty. Crump emphasized the physical disparity between \u200cthe larger deputy and the smaller Massey, arguing that her death\u2064 was an unjustifiable use of force. Massey had called 911\u2064 to report a suspected prowler, but during a tense confrontation with deputies, Grayson threatened her with his gun and\u200c ultimately fired three shots, resulting in her\u200b death.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Autopsy confirms Sonya Massey died from gunshot wound to head, as attorney calls shooting senseless<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1714813\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) &mdash;<\/strong> Autopsy findings released Friday on Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old black woman fatally shot in her Illinois home by a now-fired sheriff&rsquo;s deputy&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/illinois-sheriffs-deputy-charged-cf164189d678f921deff05fa3789d3a2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>charged in her death<\/a>, confirm that she died from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gun-violence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>gunshot wound<\/a> to the head.<\/p>\n<p>The report was released shortly before civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Massey&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/family\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>family<\/a>, denounced the killing by ex-sheriff&rsquo;s deputy Sean Grayson as senseless, unnecessary, and excessive.<\/p>\n<p>Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon had previously disclosed initial findings on Massey&rsquo;s July 6 death in Springfield, and the full autopsy report released Friday confirmed those conclusions, including that her death was a homicide.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the bullet striking her just beneath her left eye, Massey had &ldquo;minor blunt force injuries&rdquo; to her right leg, the autopsy said.<\/p>\n<p>Grayson, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct charges in Massey&rsquo;s killing. He was fired last week by the Sangamon County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office and has been jailed without bond.<\/p>\n<p>Crump, at his third news conference this week since the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/illinois-police-shooting-911-murder-7a1b433183933ca94f266c0f90753a33\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>body camera video<\/a>&nbsp;was released Monday, used an enlarged diagram from the autopsy that showed the bullet exited on her lower neck in a downward trajectory. That, he said, emphasizes the physical mismatch between Massey and the much larger Grayson, who fired on her because he said he felt threatened by a pan of hot water she was moving from her stove.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When Sonya Massey was staring at the barrel of his gun, she stooped down, said, &lsquo;Sorry, sir, Sorry,&rsquo; and the bullet was shot while she was in this stooped position, coming up,&rdquo; Crump said. &ldquo;The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gascon-recall-campaign-attacked-by-media\/\" title=\"Gascon Recall Campaign Attacked by Media\">autopsy confirms<\/a> what everybody already knows, that this was just a senseless, unnecessary, excessive use of force.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Grayson is 6-foot-3 and 228 pounds. The autopsy lists Massey at 5-foot-4 and 112 pounds. Prosecutors have added that the distance between shooter and victim and a counter between them gave Grayson &ldquo;distance and relative cover&rdquo; from the hot water.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities said Massey had called 911 to report a suspected prowler. Two deputies eventually showed up at her house in Springfield, about 200 miles southwest of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Chicago\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Chicago<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The video confirmed prosecutors&rsquo; earlier account of the tense moment when Grayson yelled across a counter at Massey to set down a pot of hot water, aiming his 9mm pistol at her and threatening to shoot her in the face. He fired three times.<\/p>\n<p>The unidentified deputy with Grayson then said he would get his medical kit, but Grayson said, &ldquo;She done. You can go get it, but that&rsquo;s a head shot. There&rsquo;s nothing you can do, man.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He later relented while the second deputy held towels to Massey&rsquo;s head to try to stem the bleeding, but by the time Grayson returned with his kit, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/island-mystery-3-americans-dead-at-sandals-resort-in-bahamas\/\" title=\"Island Mystery: 3 Americans Dead At Sandals Resort in Bahamas\">emergency medical professionals<\/a> had arrived, and when they told Grayson his help wasn&rsquo;t needed, he threw his kit on the floor and said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not even gonna waste my med stuff then.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Massey struggled with mental illness, according to her family. Her son, 17-year-old Malachi Hill Massey, said Friday that he and his 15-year-old sister had moved in with their fathers because Sonya Massey had admitted herself to a 30-day inpatient program in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/st-louis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>St. Louis<\/a> sometime during the week before her death, but returned two days later without explanation.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title> <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Malachi Massey also said that on July 5, the day before the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-newspaper-refuses-to-give-description-of-suspect-in-mass-shooting-because-of-stereotypes\/\" title=\"Texas Newspaper Refuses To Give Description Of Suspect In Mass Shooting Because Of \u2018Stereotypes\u2019\">early morning shooting<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-secretary-of-state-investigating-voter-registration-group-run-by-democrat-raphael-warnock\/\" title=\"Georgia Secretary Of State Investigating Voter Registration Group Run By Democrat Raphael Warnock\">law enforcement officers<\/a> whom he thought were from Sangamon County were called to the house and were there when he arrived. By then, his mother had called him to say she was driving herself to a local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hospital\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>hospital<\/a>, apparently for mental health treatment. He said he doesn&rsquo;t know who called police or what help she was seeking that day.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Associated Press<\/em> has asked local law enforcement agencies for records of the July 5 call.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1714813\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1714813\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An autopsy report released on Friday confirmed that Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who was fatally shot in her Illinois home by a former sheriff&#8217;s deputy now facing charges, died from a gunshot wound to the head. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Massey&#8217;s family, condemned the actions of ex-deputy Sean Grayson as senseless and excessive. The Sangamon County Coroner had previously shared initial findings regarding Massey&#8217;s death on July 6 in Springfield, which were corroborated by the full autopsy report indicating her death was ruled a homicide. The report noted that the bullet struck just below her left eye and also mentioned &#8220;minor blunt force injuries&#8221; to her right leg. Grayson has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm; he was terminated from his position last week and is currently being held without bond. During a press conference, Crump highlighted an illustration from the autopsy showing the bullet&#8217;s downward trajectory exiting at her lower neck, underscoring the physical disparity between Massey and Grayson\u2014who is significantly larger\u2014and questioning why lethal force was used when she posed no real threat while moving hot water from her stove. Authorities stated that Massey had called 911 about a suspected prowler prior to the incident involving two deputies arriving at her home approximately 200 miles southwest of Chicago. Video evidence revealed tense moments where Grayson threatened to shoot Massey while aiming his weapon at her as she complied with his orders during their encounter across a counter in her kitchen before firing three shots. Afterward, despite attempts by another deputy to assist Massey after she was shot, Grayson&#8217;s dismissive attitude towards medical help raised further concerns about his conduct during this tragic event. According to family members, Sonya struggled with mental health issues; just days before her death she had briefly entered an inpatient program but returned home unexpectedly two days later without explanation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2634,"featured_media":2310153,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/sonya-massey-cam-.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[16377,34950,36452],"class_list":["post-2310149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-autopsy","tag-gunshot-wound","tag-sonya-massey"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/sonya-massey-cam-.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2310149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2634"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2310149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2310149\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2310153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2310149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2310149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2310149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}