Illinois
Sonya Massey death: Family claims Illinois cops tried to cover up killing by calling it suicide, ‘They tried to…’
The family of Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman who was shot dead by an Illinois sheriff’s deputy in her house this month, has accused police of initially trying to cover up the killing. Massey was gunned down on July 6 by Sean Grayson, who had visited her house with another deputy after she called 911 to report a prowler. The shooting, caught on body camera and released, sparked widespread outrage.
The Guardian obtained police audio that features someone at the scene, possibly a deputy, saying Massey’s wound was “self-inflicted.” The family said at a press conference that police initially told her loved ones that she had either died by suicide or was killed by an intruder.
The body camera video shows deputies initially having a seemingly normal conversation with Masset. However, the situation turned deadly when Grayson asked Massey to drop a pot of hot water, and then fatally shot her in the face. Prosecutors believe Massey did not pose a threat to the deputy.
‘How do you get that confused?’
“They tried to make me believe that a neighbor had did it,” said Jimmie Crawford Jr, Massey’s former partner who is the father of one of her children. He added that law enforcement told nurses at the hospital Massey had been taken to that she had “killed herself.” “How do you get that confused?” Crawford Jr added.
“They said it was being investigated, then they said they told the physicians at the hospital she had committed suicide—and then they revised it,” Massey’s mother, Donna, said, stressing the importance of an investigation.
“We’re going to get justice for sure. I know. We are for sure,” she added. Donna is set to meet with vice president Kamala Harris, and has already visited Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois. Joe Biden has extended his condolences and expressed his anger.
The family said law enforcement started classifying Massey’s death as a police killing only after a doctor said it was a homicide. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the victim’s family, said that an investigation has been launched by the US Department of Justice. The DoJ told The Guardian that it “is aware of and assessing the circumstances surrounding the tragic officer-involved death of Ms Sonya Massey and extends condolences to her family and loved ones. The department will continue to track the criminal case opened by the Sangamon county state’s attorney.”
Sonya Massey’s son breaks silence
The teenage son of Massey has broken his silence days after the incident. Malachi Hill-Massey, 17, told CBS News that the 36-year-old was “a good mother” and was “very smart and always helped everybody but herself.” “Just a ball of love, honestly, to me. She cooked me the best food. I love her food, honestly,” Malachi said.
“She’s just the most loving person ever. I don’t know. That’s the person that made me just feel so loved,” he said, adding that he just could not bring himself to see the video of the shooting. “I don’t have any words for this,” he said.
Grayson has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct, and faces life in prison if convicted of murder. He is now at the Menard County Detention Facility, as per records.
Article Summary
- In an annual May ceremony, friends, family and supporters of law enforcement honored two Illinois police officers who died in the line of duty in 2025.
- The event included a squad car processional and interfaith church service, ending in a ceremony at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial outside the state capitol.
- Seven historic honorees and one K-9 historic honoree were also included.
This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.
In a ceremony at the state Capitol, family, friends and supporters honored the lives of two law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2025.
The ceremony honored Officer Krystal Rivera of the Chicago Police Department and Detective Tim Jones of the Park Forest Police Department. Held annually on the first Thursday in May, the event is a tradition to honor law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty the previous calendar year.
“Today, as we remember your brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, coworkers and friends who lost their lives in the line of duty, let us not remember them as indestructible superheroes that we may envision as children,” state Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “Let’s remember them as human beings, in all their vulnerabilities and susceptibilities, who chose to take on the risk of the ultimate sacrifice to make others’ lives safer.”
This year’s memorial also included seven historic honorees who died from 1852 to 1936 and one K-9 honoree, Bear, who died in 1987.
“These officers represent the very best of what it means to be a public servant,” said Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. “They came from different communities, different departments and different backgrounds, but they were united by a common goal: to protect people they may never meet, to run toward danger while others run away and to always put service above themselves.”
In an emotional address, Giannoulias also spoke of “fellow Greek American” CPD Officer John Bartholomew, who was shot and killed while on duty in April. Bartholomew’s visitation and funeral services are set to take place this weekend.
State Treasurer Michael Frerichs also gave a short speech, speaking on his family history with law enforcement and loss: “I’m invited here today because it’s my title. I come here today because of family.”
Frerichs encouraged families of fallen officers to apply to the Fallen Heroes Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to children who lost a parent in the line of duty.
The event included a squad car procession at the state fairgrounds and an interfaith church service at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, ending in the ceremony at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial on the grounds of the state Capitol.
The mayor of Springfield, Misty Buscher, and the families of two 2025 honorees — Illinois State Police trooper Corey Thompsen and Chicago Police officer James Crowley — also spoke. Gov. JB Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Comptroller Susana Mendoza were unable to attend.
Crowley’s sister Beth Carter gave a critical address, calling for reforms to the beneficiary system that she said left her with legal issues when her brother, a former police officer who was permanently injured while on duty, and her mother died within a month of each other.
Thompsen’s parents and brother also called for legislative reform. Thompsen was hit and killed by a driver who was later issued two tickets for an expired license and failure to yield. His family asked lawmakers to enact stricter consequences for crashes resulting in death and to communicate with other states about such events.
“If someone causes a crash that kills another person, there needs to be more of a consequence than two paid tickets for $500 each. We feel that the state of Illinois should notify the other state where the original license was issued, reporting that a fatality is caused by this person with an expired driver’s license,” Thompsen’s brother Ryan said. “As the state’s attorney told us, you won’t find any satisfaction here in the courthouse. How true that was.”
The Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee, formed in 1987, organizes and maintains the monument located on the grounds of the Capitol. The memorial is self-funded and underwent a renovation and re-dedication in 2021.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
DELAVAN, Wis. — A Delavan police officer has resigned immediately following his arrest on stalking charges in Illinois.
Joshua Bittner faces charges stemming from contacting a woman against the orders of the Winnebago County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Office. The woman detailed a long pattern of harassment in court documents obtained by TMJ4.
Before being hired by the Delavan Police Department in 2023, Bittner was an officer in Beloit. He resigned from that position while the police department investigated his behavior.
Bittner’s resignation takes effect immediately.
Watch: Delavan police officer resigns after arrest on stalking charges in Illinois
Delavan police officer resigns following arrest
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