Will you stand up for justice?
On the night of July 6, 2024, a 36-year-old mother of two called 911 to report suspicious sounds heard around her home. She was maliciously, senselessly, and fatally shot in the face in her own home by one of the deputies that responded. You can help us change the laws to protect innocent people like Sonya Massey.
Below you can see a summarized video of the events which took place. If you wish to view the uninterrupted footage, click the body cam.
Additionally, here is a moment-by-moment breakdown of the facts of the events with accompanying screenshots, reported on by "The Civil Rights Lawyer," esteemed attorney, John H. Bryan. This careful examination proves Sonya's innocence.
Here you can see Sonya in her final moments
After the officers request that she turn off the stove where she is boiling water, they begin to pretend they are afraid she will throw the water at them.
Sonya calmly and jokingly responds, "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus" (the old, Christian term some people use to refute negative intentions they are accused of).
Deputy Sean Grayson proceeds to yell, curse, and threaten to shoot Sonya in the face unless she puts down the pot.
Sonya puts down the pot (see video 
).
Deputy Grayson moves towards Sonya while yelling at her to put the pot down, until she puts the pot down, and then ducks behind her counter. Deputy Grayson continues to shout "PUT THE POT DOWN" while she is ducking down with nothing but potholders in her hands. He then proceeds to shoot her three times in her face.
Here you can see Sonya in her final moments.
After the officers request that she turn off the stove where she is boiling water, they begin to pretend they are afraid she will throw the water at them.
Sonya calmly and jokingly responds, "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus" (the old, Christian term some people use to refute negative intentions they are accused of).
Deputy Sean Grayson proceeds to yell, curse, and threaten to shoot Sonya in the face unless she puts down the pot.
Sonya puts down the pot (see video ).
Deputy Grayson moves towards Sonya while yelling at her to put the pot down while she is ducking, clearly holding nothing but potholders. Deputy Grayson continues to shout, "PUT THE POT DOWN," and then proceeds to shoot her three times in her face.
After the officers requested Sonya tend to the pot, she began to pour the hot water out into the sink. She never made any threats. She was repeatedly, obscenely screamed at by two officers at gunpoint to put down a pot – a pot that she was not holding.
Here you can see Sonya's final moments in slow-motion ⬇️
THE SONYA LAWS
These are the initial laws we endeavor to enact to protect ALL LIVES from unjust violence. Petitions must receive 100,000 signatures within 30 days in order to get an official response from the White House. With your support, our mission can succeed.
SAFELINE
We propose the creation of a 911 hotline that allows individuals to livestream video and audio footage directly to 911 responders. This service would enable real-time video and audio communication with 911 dispatchers, providing an additional layer of safety when people feel threatened by the police. By knowing their actions are being monitored live, officers will be encouraged to act justly and responsibly, ensuring accountability and protection for all citizens. This feature acts as a video chat with 911 responders, specifically for situations where there is fear of police misconduct or mishandling.
COP365
We propose a mandate requiring that anyone with the authority to use lethal force, such as police officers, must be continuously recorded while on duty. Police bodycams must be on at all times, ensuring that every interaction, word, and action is captured on video and audio. This law removes the discretion from officers to decide when to record, enforcing constant surveillance to guarantee accountability and transparency. If officers have the power to kill, then they must be recorded every moment they are on duty, every day of the year.
With your support, we can raise the capital needed to begin lobbying for these laws within the next two months.
Cases like Sonya's are disturbingly common.
The following information is sourced from the Official Mapping Police Violence Database. For more statistics, click the gun.
The following graph from Statista is titled "Number of people shot to death by the police in the United States from 2017 to 2024*, by race"
Accountability in law enforcement is not a luxury—it's a necessity. America’s current system grants unchecked power to those who should be held to the highest standards. Without immediate reform, the unchecked behavior of law enforcement will only escalate. It's time to act before it's too late.
Here are details from Sonya's case that show why Safe Line and Cop365 are needed:
Mercy was Denied & Statistics Predicted This Tragedy
Among the first things Massey said when she opened the door for the officers was: “Please don’t hurt me.”
Sonya had called the police to report a possible prowler, but despite finding no threat, it appears that Deputy Grayson pressured her into letting them inside her home.
Clearly uncomfortable, Sonya called 911 again and repeatedly asked the operator to stay on the line, but Grayson insisted they hang up. It's unclear at what point the responder terminated the conversation, but that should also be investigated.
If she had Safe Line, she could have notified responders that she felt threatened, which most likely would have prevented the escalation that led to her death.
The day before, Sonya's mother had called 911 to report that Sonya was having a mental breakdown. She clearly stated that she was not a threat to herself or to anyone else. Her mother said she was afraid to involve the police, asked them not to hurt her daughter, and specifically requested that they do not send any prejudiced officers.
Sonya made a few 911 calls on July 5th as well. She reported that her neighbor had dented her car, broken the windows, and hit her with a brick. She was still wearing a hospital bracelet when the deputies arrived. Her mentally and physically weak state was evident and documented.
Shady Conduct Denotes Deliberate Premeditation
Deputy Grayson turned on his body cam just seconds before shooting Sonya, violating his precinct's protocol.
Without the other deputy's recording, Grayson could have easily framed her. Grayson had a history of aggressive behavior, DUIs, and disobedience. He should have never had a badge in the first place.
He was discharged from the army for serious misconduct and had been moved between six police departments in two years. He secured his position at the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department through recommendations from his fiancée Isabel Butterfield's father, Scott Butterfield—a respected sheriff’s deputy who had served in law enforcement for over 30 years.
Both Grayson and Isabel had previously worked at St. John’s Hospital, which Sonya visited on July 5th. It is speculated that Sonya and Isabel had a prior altercation while Sonya was receiving mental health treatment at Capitol Community Health Center, where Isabel is currently employed. These factors suggest the murder may have been deeply premeditated.
At 12:49 am, Sonya called 911 and told the responders, "I keep hearing stuff on the outside of my house and it sounds like somebody was banging on the outside of my house. I don't know... Could y'all come and see?"
The deputies knocked on the door at 1:12—only 20 minutes after Sonya had made the report—and said, "We checked your yard, we walked around the whole block, we didn't see anybody. We checked the whole area, there's nobody out walking around ... We checked your house, we checked your backyard, I walked all the way through all these backyards, we checked your front yard ... We didn't see nobody ... Nobody's out here. We checked the whole area." The deputies' sudden arrival after Sonya’s 911 call—before she had even had time to dress—raises further concerns.
If Cop365 were in effect, we could review all the deputies' conversations, confirm whether Grayson and the other deputy were the prowlers Sonya heard initially, and verify if they truly conducted a thorough search of her neighborhood. Cop365 would provide answers, ensure full accountability, and deter malicious actions.
Tragic Echoes of Injustice
This past March, Sonya's 4-year-old cousin, Terrell, was also tragically killed by police in his home just 84 miles away.
Responding to a domestic dispute that had turned into a hostage situation, officers broke down the apartment door after hearing desperate cries for help.
Inside, they found Terrell’s mother, Keianna Miller, severely wounded. As the officers escorted Miller to safety, the alleged assailant, 57-year-old Anthony George, used Terrell as a human shield, holding a knife at the boy’s neck.
In a horrifyingly swift response, an officer fired a shot that pierced through Terrell’s head and into George’s neck, ending both their lives in a matter of seconds.
The officer never attempted de-escalation or negotiation tactics, and the fatal shot was fired within just 16 seconds of entering the apartment.
Despite this rapid escalation and lack of de-escalation tactics, the officer who fired the shot was not charged. In contrast, Deputy Grayson was indicted on July 17 on three counts of first-degree murder and one count each of aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct for what he did to Sonya.
Donald Trump has pledged to grant police officers full immunity if he is elected president in the upcoming election.
This threatens to further shield police from accountability, compounding the injustice faced by families like Terrell's.
With such tragic incidents occurring daily, urgent reform is needed to ensure that the lives of innocents are protected and justice is served.
Help us shed a light on this dark situation and bring about a more reliable system for justice.
If you have questions or relevant information, please email US@TheSonyaLaws.com
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