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.
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. – We’re learning more about the victims in Friday’s tragedy on Geneva Lake.
Three kids, ages 10, seven, and six, were killed after they were trapped in the sinking boat during the severe storms.
Officials won’t comment on their identities, but FOX6 learned at least two of them were students at the Community Unit School District 200 (CUSD 200) in Wheaton, Illinois.
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The district released a statement, saying:
“On behalf of Community Unit School District 200, our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the children who died in a tragic boating incident in Lake Geneva on July 3. We ask that you join us in supporting these families during this difficult time, and keep them in your thoughts as we all cope with this incredible loss.”
Lake Geneva Police Chief statement
What we know:
The City of Lake Geneva Police Department is opening up on the incident and the property destruction caused by the storms.
The police chief says, in part:
“In moments of tragedy, we often see the very best in people, and that has certainly been true here. While there is still healing ahead, I hope everyone knows how grateful we are for the outpouring of support shown over these past several days. It has been humbling to witness and a reminder that no one faces hardship alone when a community stands together.”
–Chief Ed Gritzner, City of Lake Geneva Police Department
The backstory:
Walworth County experienced what law enforcement described as a “sudden and severe” storm on July 3. The National Weather Service said it created a downburst with peak winds estimated at 90–100 mph.
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The storm downed hundreds of trees and power lines, damaged several buildings and created hazardous boating conditions on Geneva Lake. One boat with 10 people on board overturned and ultimately sank.
Six adults and one child were rescued from the water, while three of the kids were missing when emergency responders got there. Those three children were found and later died despite life-saving attempts.
Emergency response on Geneva Lake after storms lead to calls for water rescue on July 3, 2026.
Who was on the boat?
The latest:
The three children who died have been identified as a 10-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy.
The boat operator was a 47-year-old man. The other passengers were a 75-year-old man, a 73-year-old woman, a 49-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy.
The group included residents of Fontana, as well as residents of Batavia and Wheaton, Illinois. All four kids were wearing properly fitted life jackets, according to law enforcement.
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What happened on Geneva Lake?
Dig deeper:
Law enforcement said the boat operator had “extensive boating experience” and was unable to find safe harbor when the storm hit. At least two large waves broke over the bow, causing it to take on water. Another wave hit the side of the boat, causing it to roll, capsize and sink.
The sunken vessel was found in 32 feet of water, and three children were found inside the boat. Divers were able to get them out and bring them to the surface, and they were pronounced dead despite life-saving attempts. Investigators determined they had no external injuries and drowned.
What’s next:
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency are still conducting a joint investigation into the accident. Eleven other agencies assisted with the immediate needs.
The Source: Information in this post comes from the City of Lake Geneva Police Department and Community Unit School District 200 (CUSD 200), along with prior
Two people were shot, and one of them died, in an apartment in the north Chicago suburb of Mundelein on Tuesday morning.
At 11:40 am., Mundelein police were called to a building in the 500 block of Deepwoods Drive following the shooting.
They found two victims who had been shot. A woman was taken to an area hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, while a man died at the hospital, according to the Lake County sheriff’s office.
Mundelein police obtained a description of a suspect vehicle and broadcast it to other law enforcement agencies. Illinois State Police traced a car all the way to the Illinois-Indiana state line, where they pulled over the car and took a man and woman into custody.
Police believe the shooting was targeted and domestic in nature, the sheriff’s office said.
The Lake County Major Crimes Task Force and Mundelein police continued to investigate Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 1:19AM
MUNDELEIN, Ill. (WLS) — A motorcyclist was killed in a north suburban crash on Monday evening, police said.
Mundelein police said officers and members of the fire department responded to a crash involving a Suzuki motorcycle and a Honda SUV near Route 45 and Route 83 around 5:25 p.m.
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The motorcyclist, a 34-year-old man, was ejected, police said. He was pronounced dead on the scene, and his name was not immediately released.
Police said the intersection was shut down but is expected to reopen around 8:30 p.m.
The Mundelein Police Department, the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team, and the Lake County Coroner’s Office are investigating.
Authorities did not immediately provide further information.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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