A former Illinois deputy has been sentenced to 20 years for fatally shooting Sonya Massey, a Black woman who called 911 for help.
Sean Grayson, 31, was convicted in October of second-degree murder. Grayson, who is white, received the maximum possible sentence and has been in police custody since being charged in the killing.
Massey’s family members, who were sitting in the court, celebrated his sentence with a loud cheer: “Yes!” The judge admonished them.
Grayson apologized during the sentencing, saying he wished he could bring Massey back and spare her family the pain he caused.
“I made a lot of mistakes that night. There were points when I should’ve acted, and I didn’t. I froze,” he said. “I made terrible decisions that night. I’m sorry.”
20 years doesn’t feel like it should be the maximum sentence.
Nice skull tats that asshole has.
Gosh this is just depressing to read, no wonder people hate cops https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sonya_Massey
Its not even this, it’s so much simpler. Mistakes happen, but so many of their “mistakes” are 100% avoidable and no one is ever accountable for their shitty actions. Thats the main reason I hate cops. They’re arrogant assholes that just like to abuse citizens, and even when faced with irrefutable evidence of wrongdoing, “they did nothing wrong” by their dept.
Fast food workers are held under higher moral standards than the fucking cops. ACAB.
They arrogantly call themselves highly trained, highly paid professionals but when faced with reality they often panick and just start shooting.
Ok, probably an unpopular opinion, but at the VERY least he felt remorse. Like he didn’t double down.
These people are all liars, manipulators, rapists, abusers, and murderers. Part of the point of the trial is to find out if it was on purpose or not. And time and time again, magas always express sadness ONLY when punished, and then after, double down on it.
Not always. Some murderers are giddy after killing.
Devil’s advocate: If you saw the things that Hitler did and made others do, and then could be the one to kill him, I think there would be a significant portion of us who would get over human and living being empathy pretty quickly and then take quite a lot of deep, actual joy from ending him.
I realize what you’re saying, but it just made me wonder if maybe they aren’t so wrong after all. For the record, I’ve never killed another person, and have never seen another person die in real life, and all real people I’ve seen killed in video have been truly awful. Yet, I feel like I could take the life of somebody I decidedly thought were irredeemingly bad if needed, and not feel very much remorse. And yet, I don’t want to have to ever find out… But still, there’s that age old question: kill or be killed? And I may hesitate. My genetic family has made it this far, I’d like to believe it wasn’t full of blissful murderers, but we all know that that’s what we all were; it’s how we think about, and systemically settle our differences now and into the future that matters. Is reconditioning or even prison truly hubris? I can’t believe so. Humans are intelligent and capable of not only change but evolution, we now know that as fact. That I, alone believe in change, yet myself come from a long line of survivors in the age old question of kill or be killed, is evidence of the contrary. Even if the hubris is learned, proves that we are capable of change and hope for better.
Some murderers are gidddy after killing - I would argue that it doesn’t mean much. Even assuming they’re truly happy, it doesn’t define them as absolutely lost. Or maybe evolution states we purify the gene pool. What other things should we purify? Do you see the problem with that sort of fear? Maybe we should all be giddy with happiness to cleanse ourselves of perceived insanity. Or maybe the desire to do so is exactly how that murderer became that way to begin with.
Are cops automatically MAGA in the US? I’m in Canada so I think it’s probably a bit different; the cops here are a mixed bag and some seem to genuinely care about the community. In the states are they really all MAGA? That’s horrifying.
I only live in one state, and don’t travel a lot. So I only really know my tiny pocket. But in my tiny pocket, it used to be a somewhat mixed bag, but that job really does attract the worst types and the best types, and the best types can be easily swayed by fear and groupthink. I tend to stay away from cops as much as I can, just because of personality differences, and they’re mostly all power-trippy types, it’s just the nature of the job, and the longer things go, the more that’s affirmed. And control is just had by changing whatever they perceive is the right thing to do.
I’m sure there are humble, normal people out there, but their low visibility through need to conform basically defines the trade alone; most cops really are, or will become, bastards.
Now, whether or not they’re really MAGA or not… You realize, the KKK was/is a community organization, right? Caring about the community is not the issue here, this is a long running cold war of philosophy and world view. And right now, the fascists are overwhelmingly in power, which makes both the loud and the quiet types very much emotionally empowered, and in essence, even louder.
Honestly, if we could just isolate them and put them in a pocket dimension time out for a few generations, they’d mostly kill themselves and each other. I’d be curious how they’d all evolve. Or maybe that’s where we all are right now. #sadface
Good point about the KKK. When I say “community” I mean every member of society, but obviously that’s not a universal agreement, and also probably not true in the purest sense anyway.
I appreciate the thoughtful reply.
I think I’m betting on us all being fixable through love.
He expressed remorse before being sentenced. Who knows what he felt?
He was already convicted when he apologized. Probably hoping to not get the maximum sentence.
Maybe but more likely his lawyer told him not to admit guilt until convicted. Assuming he pled not guilty.
20 yrs is the maximum sentence.
It shouldn’t be a lot to ask for, but unfortunately these days, it seems so. I agree.
RIP Sonya Massey. 20 years isn’t really enough. But when it comes to police the bar is so low for them to get held accountable it is better than nothing.
He will be out in 5-7.
I’m actually surprised, I read this story a while back and expected it like so many US injustices, particularly right now, and that the cop would get a paid vacation. I was deeply depressed.
I mean I still am, but I was back then too.
Either way, I hope he experiences in prison what cops who go to prison experience. 20 years isn’t enough to make someone feel the pain they’ve inflicted on others by taking a life for no reason, and he will likely get out early if he lives, but at least I know however long he’s in there will be either in sheer, constant terror, or utter isolation as he’s kept separate from the general population.
It’s really weird that they capitalize “black” in these stories. I get that it’s relevant to mention because these things happen to black people a lot more often, but that doesn’t make it a proper noun. They didn’t capitalize “white”. It seems like pandering and it’s kind of gross and racist in its own way.
I tend to avoid stories like that because its obvious the author is trying to push in a racial divide amongst its readers.
See I don’t have a problem race being discussed if it has a direct role in the situation. The capitalization is weird though.
I feel its relevant to mention the race of the victim because racism in law enforcement seems like a potential cause in a lot of these incidents. Statistically black people are much more likely to be the victim, we can’t fix that unless we acknowledge it. Mentioning the race of the cop, not so much. It’s more of systemic issue. Black cops seem to carry a lot of the same biases.
It’s almost a proper noun thing. It’s not a race thing. It’s a language thing.
It’s not a proper noun though. I know we use the word “proper” and it sounds like “better” but grammatically it’s not, it’s just a category.
Except that’s not a proper noun.
In the same exact quote they don’t capitalize “white”. It sure looks like a pandering thing.
Hm! I didn’t notice that
Someone said in a separate post, where the same question was brought up, that it’s because Black refers to a specific cultural group while white doesn’t (that’d be Irish-American or whatever)
You don’t have to always assume it’s malice.
So that means everyone with a certain skin tone MUST be in the same specific cultural group?
It’s not malice but it is mistaken. “White” is used as a general term as well.
Ah yes, the historic culture of “black” stretching from New Zealand to Africa and South Asia and South America. You know, all very monocultured.
The largest /s imaginable
Black people aren’t a monolith either though. They come from all over the world, just like white people. That explanation is offensive in a totally different way.
There’s even an entire Key and Peele skit about it.
Actually all monorities are a monolith, which is why you can refer to them using using the singular noun (‘The Jew’) and everybody will know you’re talking about all of them. Hitler wrote a entire book about this.
I get your sarcasm but I bet this post is going to get a ton of downvotes.
Honestly I prefer people are identified by their tribes or families. It is more specific than using vague colours. I have never seen a white human being yet we have been programmed to all ourselves white. You mean white like salt? That’s what I mean when I say white. Use tribes or families to identify people. Much better than vague colours
20 years isn’t enough for his lack of empathy for a woman who did nothing wrong and was simply trying to get help and make dinner.
He had a license to kill and used it and didn’t think he would be held accountable.
You hear that ICE? Sometimes the piper got to be paid.
I was JUST thinking about this. What a good time to hop on lemmy. Happy ending.
Well, I wouldn’t say it’s happy to be honest, a life has lost anyway. Not the worst one though, for sure
True. I guess I’m just jaded enough that I hope for anything other than “zero consequences for the officer; plus he’s still working as LEA somewhere” That shit’s actually terrifying
Cops have a stressful, often life-threatening job, no doubt. But so do a lot of people. My family has a history of working in psychiatric lock-ups with extremely violent mentally ill and developmentally abnormal patients, most of whom are being held because of murders and rapes they’ve committed (usually of their own families), and who would murder you if they had the chance/inclination to do so, because they simply don’t know any better. The nurses don’t carry firearms, they’re trained with a few restraining grappling technique and a lot of deescalation tactics. They don’t even have tasers. Put an armed cop in that situation and you’d have a ward full of corpses within a few days. Hell, put a regular prison guard in that situation and you’d have a similar outcome. But my family members aren’t MMA experts, and have never been [seriously] injured in their job. They’ve been properly trained, that’s all. Cops are trained like they’re being shipped off to 'Nam in 1969 to fight an unseen, non-uniformed enemy.
“Often life threatening” is not likely to be true. Sometimes, yes. Often? No chance.
This was interesting. Most of these jobs are dangerous because they increase your exposure to car accidents it looks like.
I had heard that most police officers deaths are from car accidents, but this says “violence by other people or animals”. Must be just their category name, not because animals are a significant danger. That category is shared with one other profession in the top 25 most dangerous, supervisor of mechanics at number 19. I guess bossing around people with a lot of potentially dangerous tools at hand goes bad fairly often.
Reddit comments mention that something like a third of policemen deaths in the USes are from car accidents.
Dutch cops often walk around without guns.
Definitely a boys club and training issue in America.
The Netherlands doesn’t have more guns than people though. The US does.
Edit- this is not excusing cops shooting people, I am just saying that gunless cops makes more sense in a country where everyone isn’t armed to the teeth
Switzerland has almost as many guns as people. But they are treated as a tool, no one really wants, not like a dick extension
Delivery drives have a more dangerous job than cops
I’d probably carry a gun as a delivery driver in some neighborhoods too
Ironically every corporation bars you from doing that because they would be liable. There are probably some small mom-and-pop places that advise drivers to carry. And of course plenty do despite the rules against it.
And why is everyone so obsessed with guns in this same US of A? I wonder if one begets the other. People have been fearing the police in America for a looooooooonnnnnnng time. Also, see the post you replied to. Just because you’re in the shit, doesn’t mean you need all the guns and ammo on the planet to do your job. If it’s a serious violence threat, then send in the swat. Patrol should be using guns as an absolute last resort, not a first inclination. The mentality is skewed, but no surprise there given the rest of things going on down there.
That makes it more dangerous for the us cops but doesn’t excuse shooting people without guns.
Fuck cops. No sympathy for traitors
I’m sure his new home will be a bastion of good will and humanity.
He should get life with no parole. It’s not like she can come back after 20 years.
20 years is a long fucking time. It’s enough. His life is still over
Couldn’t agree more. To serve and protect would have been to take the scalding, not their life. If you’re an officer the standard of conduct and consequence must be higher than for the citizen.
It says it’s the maximum. It’s better than failing to secure conviction on a higher charge.
I’m actually ok with this given what I’ve seen our penal system shit out afterwards.
He is going to lose all social skills, he will have no friends, he will not be hired by anyone and will be destitute in a matter of months living on the streets. Let him suffer more, “wHy ShOuLd wE pAy fOr HiS mEalS?!?11!”
That’s just going to make it more likely that he commits further crimes when he is released.
This, imo, is exactly what a penalty system shouldn’t do
No disagreement from me. But we got what we got(which again, isn’t great) might as well let the bastards upholding it get a taste of their own medicine.
Imagine youre in an emergency, call the hotline that specifically exists to HELP people in emergencies as quickly as possible, 24/7, and they fucking kill you.
Not only a law enforcement failure, but the US healthcare system proves once again it sucks complete shit. Sonya was suffering from a mental disorder and let me guess, her shitty health insurance, if she had any, did not allow her to be in an institute.
What institutes? Reagan did away with them so now they just go to prisons. If you’re lucky you get 1 to 2 weeks in a psych ward of a hospital, then therapy appointments (which you somehow have to arrange transport). If you’re really lucky, you can get a group home. If you are really wealthy, you can get a service to help you in your own home. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Thank fuck. It feels like everytime I read a story like this, the officer in question is just “reprimanded”, “placed under administrative leave” or “Not charged under due to immunity” or some shit.
I hope fuckers like these get what’s coming to them.
I’ve lived in IL my whole life. For half of that, the state was so corrupt that multiple governors were indicted for various crimes and ended up in jail. After Blagoyavich or whatever his name was, the pendulum swung hard back the other way. Today, after being a state employee for the last 15-years in addition to living here, I am glad we have accountability. I feel safe knowing my state and local cops can be held to account when things like this happen. It makes me, and them I’d like to think, feel safer in the community.
Nothing and no one is perfect, but Pritzker will probably go down as one of the better governors this state has had. And that’s saying something from a closeted anarchist who has despised this system for decades!
I feel like that’s 99% of cases and it’s really disheartening. Good to see them actually get what should have happened to all the others a long time ago.
Chips are often put into adseg with the pædos and murderers of women. Funny how they still seem to find each other, even under completely foreseen consequences.
It’s going to take time to overcome the “before body cam” era, but this ending brings some hope. And proof they are needed.
