The family of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman fatally shot by former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson in July 2024, has reached a $10 million settlement with Sangamon County, Illinois. 

The agreement, approved by the Sangamon County Board, is considered the largest payout in the county’s history, AP News reports.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Massey family, described the settlement as a “first step in getting full justice” for Sonya. He emphasized the need for further actions, including criminal accountability and legislative reforms to prevent similar incidents.  

The tragic event occurred on July 6, 2024, when Massey, experiencing a mental health crisis, called 911 to report a possible intruder at her Springfield home. Deputy Grayson responded to the call, and during the encounter, he shot Massey as she moved a pot of boiling water from her stove. Body camera footage revealed that Massey had ducked behind a counter with her hands raised before Grayson fired three shots, striking her below the left eye.  

Following the incident, Grayson was terminated from the sheriff’s department and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody awaiting trial.  

The $10 million settlement aims to provide some measure of recompense to Massey’s family, particularly her two teenage children. However, as Crump noted, “No price paid can take back the actions of a rogue former deputy.”