Sonya Massey's family accuse cops of trying to cover-up her killing at the hands of white Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson after damning police dispatch audio reveals it was described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound

Sonya Massey's family believe that police officers attempted to cover up the officer involved shooting that led to her death by telling staff at an Illinois hospital that the mother-of-two shot herself.

Massey, 36, called the police to her home in Springfield, Illinois, in the early hours of July 6 to report a prowler in the area. Two Sangamon County sheriff's deputies responded to the call.

After a 30 minute search of the area in which they did not find a suspect, the two went inside Massey's home and engaged her conversation. As she boiled some water in a pot, Deputy Sean Grayson shot her three times, killing her. 

The family's attorney, Ben Crump, said at a press conference held Tuesday that audio from the dispatcher on the night of the shooting sees an officer claim that Massey's wounds were self-inflicted. This comes as the DOJ confirms an investigation is underway. 

Crump told the press that the Massey family only found out through the media that she had been shot dead by a sheriff's deputy. Another family member said they were told she was shot by an intruder.   

'If it wasn't for the camera footage, [law enforcement] would have lied their way out of this,' Massey's grieving father James Wilburn said. 

Wilburn has also called for Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell to resign. 

'I want to tell y'all the sheriff here is an embarrassment,' Wilburn said. 'This man (Grayson) should have never had a badge. And he should have never had a gun. He should have never been given the opportunity to kill my child.' 

A transcript from 911 scanner traffic from the night in question sees two people discussing the shooting in which one person, who says that they are at the scene, also says that Massey died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

At Tuesday's press conference, Jimmie Crawford, the father of Massey's daughter, said that he was told that a neighbor was the perpetrator.  

Crump also said Tuesday that given the circumstances around the case, the DOJ's involvement is welcomed. 

Both President Joe Biden and Democratic-nominee-in-waiting Vice President Kamala Harris have issued statements of support for the Massey family. Harris called the death 'senseless.' 

Crump confirmed that arrangements are being made for Harris to meet with Massey's family. The attorney described the meeting between Massey's mother and Illinois Governor JB Pritzkerand Lt. Gov Juliana Stratton, which was held in a Baptist church. 

'They understood that oftentimes the Sonya Masseys of the world don't get due process of the law. And that they were committed to saying this would be a fair and transparent investigation and process at every level,' he said. 

Grayson has since been fired and pleaded not guilty to charges of first degree murder.  

Crump did not confirm or deny that the family will launch a civil lawsuit in the case but that they are exploring 'every possible legal remedy to get full justice for Sonya Massey.' 

Wilburn meanwhile reiterated his frustration that Grayson was hired by the sheriff's department given that he had two DUI convictions on his record. The former officer also worked at numerous police departments in just a few years.  

In an interview with CBS News, Massey's son, 17, Malachi, and her mother, Donna, said that law enforcement 'kept changing the story' in saying that nurses were told Massey had taken her own life. 

Malachi said he watched the beginning the body camera video of the shooting of his mother but didn’t finish it. 'I don't have no words for this,' he said.   

The mother-of-two's father first told the public that they were told Massey's death was a suicide at her funeral, which was held in Springfield on July 19. 

Sean Grayson's career included short stints as a part-time officer at three small police departments and a full-time job at a fourth department as well as working full time at two sheriff's offices, all in central Illinois. 

Sheriff's body camera video released Monday confirmed prosecutors' earlier account of the tense moment when Grayson yelled across a counter at Massey to set down a pot of hot water. 

 He then threatened to shoot the unarmed woman, Massey ducked and briefly rose, and Grayson fired his pistol at her. Massey was hit three times, with a fatal shot to her head.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board shows Grayson was hired part time on Aug. 11, 2020, by the Pawnee Police Department. 

 He also was hired part time on Feb. 4, 2021, by the Kincaid Police Department and on May 20, 2021, by the Virden Police Department.

Two months later, he was hired full time by the Auburn Police Department and remained there until May 1, 2022, when he was hired full time by the Logan County Sheriff's Office. 

Grayson left Logan County on April 28, 2023, and was hired full time on May 1, 2023, by the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office.

He received his part-time Law Enforcement Certification on June 5, 2021, according to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. His certification status currently reads as suspended on the board's website.

Grayson's attorney, Daniel Fultz, declined comment. 

The family wants Congress to approve the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, both of which U.S. House Democrats approved in 2021 before the legislation died in the Senate. 

The first aims to crack down on police misconduct, excessive force and racial bias in law enforcement, while the voting rights act would require local jurisdictions to seek federal approval before changing voting laws. 

'Every member of Congress needs to vote today so that nobody else in this United States of America has to go through what we're going through,' Wilburn said. 

Grayson was being held without bond in the Sangamon County Jail. If convicted, he faces prison sentences of 45 years to life for murder, six to 30 years for battery and two to five years for misconduct.