Dad of Sonya Massey Speaks Out as Family Protests Pre-Trial Release of Deputy Who Killed His Daughter: ‘Still a Threat’

Mar. 15, 2025

Sonya Massey’s father James Wilburn speaks in the Illinois Capitol Rotunda on Dec. 5, 2024.Photo:Thomas J. Turney/The State Journal-Register

Thomas J. Turney/The State Journal-Register

James Wilburnspoke out about his daughter’s killing in an interview with local CBS affiliateWCIApublished on Friday, Dec. 6, following an Illinois appellate court’s ruling ordering Sean Grayson’s pre-trial release.

Grayson, the former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office deputy, was charged with first-degree murder after he fatally shot Massey, who was unarmed, on July 6.

“This man is still a threat to everybody in Springfield,” he said. “Somehow it needs to make sense.We all saw the film. We saw what occurred.”

Wilburn continued, “My granddaughter tells me, ‘Papa, why don’t this man just plead guilty and leave us alone?’ I get the same thing from my sister, my other children, ‘Daddy, why doesn’t he just leave us alone?’ Well, that’s the way the justice system works.”

Sonya Massey.Facebook

Facebook

Massey called police on July 6 after fearing there was an intruder in her home. Her shooting death was captured on body camera footage, when Massey got up to remove a pot of hot water from the stove and said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

Massey was not seen on camera when Grayson fired at her. She was 36.

Mugshot of Sean Grayson.Sangamon County Jail

Sangamon County Jail

Massey’s family has since hired prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump. PerWICS, family members and supporters appeared at the state capitol on Thursday, Dec. 5 to protest the Illinois Appellate Court’s actions.

James Wilburn appeared alongside University of Springfield Professor Dr. Lesa Johnson and activist Teresa Haley.

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James Wilburn, father of Sonya Massey, speaks at a press conference on July 22, 2024.Thomas J. Turney/The State Journal-Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

Thomas J. Turney/The State Journal-Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

“My friends, my family, they try to keep me busy so that I’m not alone. It’s when I’m alone that I really, really meditate on our conversations that we used to have,” Wilburn told WCIA of the months since his daughter’s killing.

He added that “they’re talking about letting a killer go on the streets until it’s time for his trial.”

source: people.com