CHICAGO — An online fundraiser to assist the family of an Illinois woman who was killed in a deputy-involved shooting eclipsed $500,000 in contributions Friday.
The GoFundMe account in Sonya Massey’s name, established just eight days earlier, originally sought $100,000 to assist her survivors with counseling, travel, legal and household expenses. It quickly reached that goal and was subsequently increased. The account now posts a fundraising goal of $600,000.
“Your contributions have been instrumental in our fight and will help us all heal after this tragedy,” reads an update posted to the ‘Justice for Sonya Massey‘ fundraiser earlier this week. “The work is far from over though, and we hope that you will continue to say Sonya’s name and keep her legacy alive!”
Massey, 36, was killed in the early morning hours of July 6 after she’d called 911 to report a suspected prowler. In a sudden escalation captured on law enforcement officers’ body cameras, Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson shot Massey three times, with one fatal blow to the head, as she worked with a boiling pot of water.
Grayson was terminated and indicted in the wake of the shooting. He’s pleaded not guilty to the charges.
