The police officer who shot Sonya Massey, Sean Grayson, revealed the reason why he did what he did. Grayson pointed to Massey’s comment, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” as the moment when he thought his life was in danger. He thought Massey was threatening him as she held the pot of hot boiling water that she was told by the officers to interact with. The body camera shows the final moments of Massey’s life.
There have been discussions among media types and independent journalists online about whether or not Massey threw the water. That is a point that can be made, but it isn’t really relevant. The most important issue is Sean Grayson himself. He has been a problem for many years. Grayson has two DUIs, he was discharged from the military after just 18 months, and he had been with six different police departments in four years. Comments about Grayson from the police departments he was previously employed by say that Grayson needed more training. He had received quite a bit of training after those remarks were made, but it doesn’t appear to have made a difference.
SOURCES:
Sean Grayson’s fatal shooting of Sonya Massey highlights risky practice of hiring ‘wandering officers’ | CNN
Sonya Massey case: Ex-deputy thought she ‘was going to kill him’
Sonya Massey: Deputy thought rebuke ‘in the name of Jesus’ meant deadly harm | AP News
Deputy Who Killed Sonya Massey Claimed He Thought She Intended to Kill Him
Illinois deputy who fatally shot Sonya Massey said he feared for his life
Kamala Harris and Sonya Massey: Two Black women in two American realities – The Washington Post
Illinois deputy indicted in Sonya Massey shooting has Kansas military connection
