Sonya Massey’s family has reached a regulation of $ 10 million more than six months after being shot in his home in Illinois by a deputy responding to his call concerning a possible prowler.
Family and Massey lawyers for Sangamon county reached the agreement last week after mediation, according to documents obtained by NBC News. The regulations must be approved by the county council, which was to meet on Tuesday evening.
The chairman of the Board of Directors of the County, Andy Van Meter, told a service note to the members of the board of directors obtained by NBC News that the regulation was part of the county efforts to “treat the tragic death of Sonya Massey ยป.
“The process leading to this regulation took place over several days of intensive confidential discussions and negotiations,” wrote Van Meter.
He said the county “focuses on improving his policies and practices thanks to his memorandum of understanding,” said last month at the United States Ministry of Justice. The Sheriff department will be monitored by the DoJ for two years.
“The county will continue to work to ensure that its systems of police and emergency intervention work effectively, with the necessary guarantees in place to prevent future tragedies,” wrote Van Meter.
The memo said that the regulations will not lead to an increase in tax, additional debt or discounts of the county services.
Ben Crump, the lawyer for civil rights representing the Massey family, did not immediately make a request for comments. Van Meter’s memo said that none of the parties “should recognize or discuss the regulations publicly until the case was before the board of directors.”
Massey, 36, was killed at her house in Springfield on July 6 by the Shergamon County Sheriff, Sean Grayson. Massey, who had dealt with mental health problems, called 911 because she thought that a prowler was outside her house. Grayson and another deputy responded and their interaction with Massey was captured on images of body cameras.
In the video, Massey is shown to turn off a burner on his stove and collect a pan of hot water after one of the deputies said to him: “We don’t need a fire while we are here.”
Massey and the deputies laughed before Massey said twice: “I reprimand you in the name of Jesus”, a religious sentence often used with casualness to keep danger away.
Grayson is understood to say: “You are better (explained) not” before shooting three shots on Massey, one of whom hit her under his left eye.
His murder was largely convicted, in particular by Governor JB Pritzker, and his name joined a growing list of blacks slaughtered in their houses by the police, including Botham Jean in September 2018, Atatiana Jefferson in October 2019 and Air Force Airman Roger Fortson in May 2024.
Grayson later said he had feared for his life. He was dismissed by the department and charged for first degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and an official fault. He pleaded not guilty and stayed in prison.
His lawyers put pressure for his release. A Grayson lawyer refused to comment on the settlement on Monday. The other officer was not identified publicly.
The Sheriff Jack Campbell resigned in August in the middle of the public outcry. He had hired Grayson knowing that he had twice guilty of having led under the influence of alcohol and that one of these convictions had led to the premature liberation of Grayson of the army in 2016.
The member of the Board of Directors of the County of Sangamon, Sam Cahnman, said that he expects the board of directors of 28 members to approve the settlement.
“I’m glad that Sonya Massey’s family is relieving this nightmare,” he said in a statement. “But no amount of money will bring Sonya back.”
