Footage from a police body camera has revealed a white officer in Illinois fatally shooting Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, in her home after she called 911 to report a suspected intruder.
Deputy Sean Grayson is charged with her murder after firing three shots, one of which struck Massey in the head.
The 36-minute video, released by Illinois State Police, captures the events leading up to and following the July 6 shooting at Massey’s Springfield residence.
Deputies arrived at her home around 1am in response to Massey's call about a potential “prowler.”
What led up to the shooting?
The footage shows a tense encounter with Massey, who appeared confused and frightened. When Grayson pointed to a pot on the stove and told Massey, “We don’t need a fire while we’re here,” she picked up the pot and said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
The deputies repeatedly yelled at her to drop the pot before Grayson fired the fatal shots.
Grayson, 30, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty.
Grayson claimed Massey approached him with boiling water, which prompted his response.
Following the incident, Grayson was fired by the sheriff’s office for not acting “as trained or in accordance with our standards.”
At a press conference, Ben Crump, the lawyer for Massey’s family, condemned Grayson’s defence as “disingenuous” and stated the shooting would “shock the conscience of America.” Crump added, “She needed a helping hand. She did not need a bullet to her face.”
Massey’s father, James Wilburn, called for transparency in the investigation and prosecution, expressing his grief and desire for justice.
US President Joe Biden commented on the incident, stating that Massey's death is a reminder of the unique dangers faced by Black Americans. He reiterated the need for Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a police reform measure introduced in response to the 2020 death of George Floyd.
Massey’s death is the latest in a series of incidents where Black individuals have been killed by police in their homes. Other notable cases include the fatal shootings of Roger Fortson in Florida and Botham Jean in Dallas, the latter of which resulted in the conviction of former officer Amber Guyger.
The ongoing push for police reform aims to address aggressive law enforcement tactics, misconduct, and racial bias, but has faced significant legislative hurdles.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ