Body Camera footage has been released from the July 6th officer-involved shooting that left unarmed Sonya Massey of Springfield, Illinois, dead in her home after she called 911 out of fear that someone was outside her residence.
According to multiple media outlets, 36-year-old Sonya called 911 because she feared for her safety. The bodycam video showed the unarmed resident opening her door for the deputies and telling them, "I love y'all. Thank y'all." Moments later, she exchanged with the deputies as they asked her for her identification. Deputy Sean Grayson then asked her to turn off her pot of boiling water, telling her, "We don't need a fire while we're here. Massey replied, "Right," and then went to the stove to move the pot. There was another exchange about the pot of hot water before Massey told the deputy, "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus." Deputy Grayson then said, "I swear to God, I'll shoot you in your (expletive) face." Massey then replied, "Ok, I'm sorry." While ordering Massey to drop the pot, Massey aimed his gun at the mother of two. Despite the fair amount of standing distance between Grayson and Massey, Deputy Grayson yelled out another command before shooting the mother of two [three times], striking her once in the head.
The footage shows Grayson explaining to his partner that he killed her because she came after him with boiling water. Yet the video shows the 36-year-old raising her hands and ducking after the deputy pointed his firearm at her.
Grayson appeared to be apathetic about the shooting. After his partner offered to get his medical kit, he unconcernedly stated, "You can go get it, but that's a headshot," Grayson said. "There's nothing you can do, man." He continued, "What else do we do? I'm not taking hot (expletive) boiling water to the (expletive) face."
Grayson was fired and arrested for first-degree murder. He is reportedly being held without bond. The Sangamon County State's Attorney's Office said in a statement that Grayson was not "justified" to use deadly force" and didn't act within the training standards of the department.
Sonya Massey's family has retained attorney Ben Crump. Attorney Crump lamented about Massey's death during a press conference, saying, "She needed a helping hand. She did not need a bullet to her face." President Biden said in a statement that he was "heartbroken" for the victim's family. The President said, "When we call for help, all of us as Americans — regardless of who we are or where we live — should be able to do so without fearing for our lives," he said. "Sonya's death at the hands of a responding officer reminds us that all too often Black Americans face fears for their safety in ways many of the rest of us do not."
The Massey family laid Sonya to rest on Friday. Massey's father, James Wilburn, demands full cooperation and transparency with the investigation. James stated, "The only time I will see my baby again is when I leave this world, and I don't ever want anybody else in the United States to join this league."
This story will be updated. (See the video below. Viewer discretion is advised.)
To subscribe to Volume 82, click the link. To follow our Instagram, click here; for TikTok, click here!
.png)
Comments