As vigils are held across the United States this weekend in memory of Sonya Massey, new information is emerging regarding the disciplinary history of the officer involved in her tragic shooting. Sean P Grayson, the officer who shot Massey, has faced accusations of unethical and aggressive behavior in the past, according to CBS News.

Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman and mother of two, had called 911 on July 6th to report a possible prowler outside her home in Springfield, Illinois. Grayson, along with another officer from the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office, responded to the call. However, instead of providing assistance to Massey, Grayson allegedly shot her in the face after she had moved a pot of water from her kitchen stove at their request.

Grayson, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct related to Massey's killing. He was terminated from the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office and has been detained without bond. The incident was captured on bodycam footage, which reveals Grayson yelling, "You better f***ing not. I swear to God I will f***ing shoot you right in your f***ing face." Both deputies shouted at Massey to drop the pot before Grayson fired three shots.

CBS News recently reported on Grayson's disciplinary file, which includes an audio recording of his previous supervising officers expressing a zero-tolerance policy for lying or deception. The recordings, dating back to November 2022, were released by the Logan County Sheriff's Office, where Grayson had worked from May 2022 to April 2023. The disciplinary file describes Grayson's behavior as bullying and an abuse of power, specifically citing a lack of integrity, lying in reports, and misconduct.

Wayman Meredith, the police chief of Girard, Illinois, shared his account of an alleged incident involving Grayson, describing him as acting like a bully. Meredith recalled an incident from last year where Grayson was "enraged" and pressuring him to call child protective services on a woman near Grayson's mother's home. "He was wanting me to do stuff that was not kosher," Meredith added.

The CBS report also highlighted Grayson's employment history, revealing that he had worked in six different law enforcement agencies within a span of four years.

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris, the presumptive 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, reached out to the Massey family to offer condolences, as reported by family members speaking to NBC News. Massey's father, James Wilburn, expressed appreciation for the vice-president's call, saying it brought him some comfort. He added that Harris conveyed her heartfelt condolences and reaffirmed her commitment to ending senseless killings like Massey's.

In response to the release of the body-camera footage, Harris issued a statement on July 23rd, acknowledging the need for significant improvements in the justice system. She underlined the importance of addressing these issues to ensure that our justice system fully lives up to its name.

As the investigation continues, the tragic death of Sonya Massey has highlighted the importance of holding law enforcement officers accountable for their actions and addressing systemic problems within the criminal justice system. The ongoing vigils across the country serve as a somber reminder of the work that still needs to be done to prevent senseless killings like Massey's from happening in the future.