SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has issued the following statement following the release of 911 calls that preceded the police shooting of Sonya Massey.
Deputy Sean Grayson shot Sonya Massey in the face, killing her, on July 6. Massey, a 36-year-old unarmed woman, had called the police to report a suspected intruder in her home.
Grayson has been indicted and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct.
Attorney Crump issued the following statement:
“The 911 calls capture the heartbreaking pleas of Sonya’s mother who desperately sought help for her daughter while expressing her deep fears about the potential for violence at the hands of the police. Despite these warnings, Sonya, a woman struggling with her mental health, was met with deadly force in her own home.
“Sonya needed compassion and support. Instead, she was met with a gunshot to the face by a deputy whose actions have now led to charges of first-degree murder. The failure to provide the appropriate response to a mental health crisis has resulted in an irreversible loss for the Massey family and underscores a systemic issue that must be addressed.
“This case is a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive police reform and better training for handling mental health crises. No family should ever have to endure such a preventable tragedy. We will continue to fight for justice for the Massey family, as well as systemic change to ensure that no other family has to suffer the pain and loss that the Massey family is experiencing.”
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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
