36-year-old Sonya Massey was shot by 30-year-old police deputy Sean Grayson on July 6, 2024, in Springfield, Illinois. Body camera footage of the incident has gone viral and sparked outrage. Well-known Attorney Benjamin Crump has already done a press conference with the family. Her son, both of her parents, and other family/friends showed up to support her. The officer has been fired from the force and has been charged with murder.
The incident started when Massey called the police with a complaint about a prowler. Two officers showed up at her home. They searched all around the property and didn’t find anything except for a curious black vehicle that didn’t produce a lead. The cops were about to leave when one of them noticed that Massey may not be doing very well mentally.
The officers wind up going inside to speak to her for a minute, presumably for a mental health check. One of the cops noticed that she had a pot of what is presumably water on the stove with the gas burner on underneath. He points it out to the officer who is wearing the body camera. Instead of either of them turning the water off, the woman gets up from the couch and does it herself.
This creates a peculiar situation in which Sean Grayson appears confused about how to handle it. When she grabbed the pot, Grayson backed out of the kitchen to give her space. She then asked, “Where are you going?” He says, “to get away from your hot boiling water.” She replies, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” This was most likely a harmless expression to denounce something, as it is commonly used in the black community and not a threat.
The officer may have taken it that way because their guns came out almost immediately afterward. She was still holding the pot in her hand, and the officer thought she might throw it. Water did wind up on the ground, but several feet away from the officers. It is not clear if the water was “thrown” or if it fell after she was shot by the officers. In either case, an investigation determined that the use of force was not justified. This is the correct decision to make.
SOURCES:
New details released on Illinois deputy charged with murder in fatal shooting of Sonya Massey – CBS News
Body-cam video shows Illinois officer fatally shooting Black woman in face | Illinois | The Guardian
Officials release video of officer fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her home after she called 911 – CBS Chicago
A step-by-step look at how law enforcement’s visit to Sonya Massey’s home went so wrong | CNN
DOJ ‘assessing the circumstances’ of Sonya Massey shooting involving ex-Sangamon County police officer Sean Grayson – ABC7 Chicago
Bodycam video shows deputy fatally shoot Sonya Massey during 911 call – The Washington Post
Massey family calls for ‘total justice’ at daughter’s funeral | WCIA.com
Illinois deputy charged with murder shot woman in face after ordering her to move pot of water | AP News
