SALISBURY — The death of Sonya Massey has sent shockwaves across the country, including Salisbury, and Thursday night, more than 50 people participated in a vigil for the young woman at Gateway Park.

Organized by Women for Community Justice, the evening was an opportunity to mourn the loss of Massey and to once again address concerns about police brutality and use of force.

Massey, a 36-year-old black woman, called police to report a possible prowler. During the response, Massey was shot and killed by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson. Massey’s home is in Woodside Township which is near Springfield, Illinois.

Since her death, Grayson has been fired from his job and on July 17, a grand jury indicted Grayson on five counts, including three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery with a firearm and one count of official misconduct.

There is video footage of the incident, which some at the vigil said they could not watch, and Grayson had a history of issues including a discharge from the military for misconduct and two DUI convictions, and had worked at six different law enforcement agencies in four years, according to his personnel file and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

During those years, Grayson had been called out or reported for several incidents of unacceptable behavior, including allegedly lying on reports and lack of integrity while at Logan County Sheriff’s Office. But the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office has insisted it had no knowledge of his prior behavior issues.

Grayson has pleaded not guilty but was denied pretrial release.

In subsequent reports, it has been discovered that Massey’s mother had called police the day before the shooting to tell them her daughter was having a “mental breakdown,” but was not a danger to herself or others. She asks that the department not send “any combative policemen who are prejudiced, please. I’m scared of the police.”

It is still unclear if Grayson or the unidentified officer who responded to the call with him were aware of that information or that Massey was known to have mental health issues.

Massey was holding a pot of hot water she had taken off the stove when the other officer asked her to remove it. She never threatened to throw the water at officers, but at one point twice said to Grayson, “I rebuke you.” When Grayson, using multiple expletives, told Massey she “better not” throw it at him or he would shoot her, while both officers were aiming their guns at her, Massey apologized, lifting the pot over her head while sinking down against a kitchen counter. Grayson then fired three shots at her, striking Massey in the head.

The other officer had activated his body camera at the start of the interaction with Massey. Grayson did not turn his on until after the shooting. Grayson was heard saying Massey suffered a “self-inflicted” gunshot wound and initially, that was what police released. That information was quickly redacted.

Since then, there has been a resurgence across the country of protests and anger over the death of another presumably innocent person, in particular a person of color, at the hands of police.

During Thursday’s vigil, Emily Ford said the call on Congress to pass a version of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which was introduced in 2021, must be renewed.

“We demand justice for Sonya,” she said. “The George Floyd Act would, among other things, create a list of officers who have had problems,” a list that can be accessed nationally, and it would provide a way to remove those unfit. “That would certainly help us here in Rowan County.”

Destiny Stone, who sang a gospel song at the vigil, said she has “not watched the video. Reading about it was enough.” But she said her husband, a barber, pointed out that “he had to go to school longer to become a barber, nine months, that he would have to become a police officer, which can be sometimes just weeks.”

“I am an angry Black woman,” said Dora Mbuwayesango. “Because her mother called and told them who not to send, and that is exactly who they sent.” She noted that she is afraid to call police, a sentiment that was echoed by several in the crowd.

Anthony Smith, a Salisbury city council member, asked if she meant she is afraid of the Salisbury Police or the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

“Both,” she said.

Smith pointed out that it has been years since the Salisbury Police had an officer-involved shooting resulting in death. It happened in 2016, when officers went to serve a no-knock warrant at the home of Ferguson Laurent Jr. During the execution of that warrant, Laurent was shot and killed. Smith pointed out that “because of the work that we have done, the work you all did and those like you, we changed how those warrants are served, and we have not had another officer-involved shooting since.” The RCSO, however, he said still needs work, and he reminded those there that the Salisbury police chief is hired by the city, while the sheriff is elected. He also pointed out that by the numbers, more poor white people are killed by police than any other group.

“Don’t tell me who not to be afraid of,” Mbuwayesango shot back.

Smith said he is “not angry. I’m numb, and I’m tired.” He said he understands the fear, but believes there needs to be acknowledgement of the work already done, and a plan of action and goals for the work to come.

“As the mother of a Black son,” said Pamela Morrison, “I have fear every time he steps out the door. He is six feet tall, with a beard down to here, and if you look at him, you might see him as scary. But he is the kindest, most gentle soul on earth. He works with children. I know he is no threat, but I also know how others may see him.”

“My son told my grandson not to drive with his hoodie up,” added Tangy Roseboro. “He said it’s a flag for police.” Her grandson pushed back, saying it wasn’t fair. “I said I know it’s not, but this is the world we live in. Not all police are bad. But we have to to get rid of those carry a badge because they want the power.”

Tara Puma, who is originally from Springfield, Illinois, but lives in Rowan now, said “good people have to stand up. When our Black and brown brothers and sisters are tired and cannot stand up, we need to stand up for them, with them. I’m sick and tired of this crap. We need to figure out what we need to do to stop this.”

People need to have conversations with their children as well, said Michelle Strong.

“Kids absorbing this think this is normal, and that’d unhealthy for them,” she said. “When they watch us, and how we react, and see we are behaving as if it’s normal, then that’s what they think. We need to talk with them. And I am also afraid to call the police if I have a problem, and that shouldn’t be normal, either.”