Vigil honoring Sonya Massey held in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — People gathered at St. Stephen Church in Wilmington for a vigil honoring Sonya Massey, the 36-year-old black woman allegedly shot and killed by a law enforcement officer.

According to an autopsy report released Friday, Massey was killed in her home by a gunshot to the head after she called 911 for help.

She was shot on July 6th.

Community leaders from Pender and New Hanover Counties spoke at the vigil, with some calling on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Sonya Patrick is an activist with Black Lives Matter.

She said legislation needs to be put in place to protect citizens like Massey who law enforcement officers kill.

“I want them to clearly know the injustice that happened to Sonya Massey,” Patrick said. “Every time we hear of an injustice, we don’t know who’s going to be next and hopefully no one is going to be next. And I’m sure when George Floyd happened, Sonya Massey didn’t know that she would be a victim as well. So what we want to know is that we need to advocate for police accountability.”

Sean Grayson is the deputy who allegedly shot Massey.

He has been fired and last week, was indicted by a grand jury on 3 counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct.