Body camera footage of Sonya Massey, a Black woman from Illinois, being shot by a white police officer was released Monday under authority of the Sangamon County state’s attorney’s office.
The video’s release has been delayed at the request of Massey’s family, but it was posted on the Illinois State Police YouTube account this afternoon.
Officers first arrived at Massey’s door in Springfield on July 6 after she called 911 to report a possible prowler in the area around 1 a.m.
At 1:21 a.m., the two officers were inside their home and Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson is seen on his partner’s body camera drawing his gun. He pointed his 9mm handgun at Massey, 36, who was holding a pot of boiling water in the kitchen.
Seconds after telling him to drop the pot, he crouched down and said “I’m sorry,” before Grayson shot him in the face.
A deputy’s body camera shows Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson at Sonya Massey’s door on July 6 after she called them to report a prowler.
The moment before Grayson shoots Massey in his kitchen.
Following the shooting, Grayson was fired and charged with first-degree murder.
Before he was shot, Massey and the officers appeared to argue over the pot, which contained boiling water.
Prosecutors alleged that Grayson ordered Massey to move him from the stove to the counter.
She took it from him and then said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
That’s when Grayson pulled out his gun and said, “I swear to God I’ll shoot you in your fucking face.”
The two officers, with their guns drawn, ordered her to drop the pot. She apologized for what she said and hid behind the counter.
Grayson moved to the corner of the counter to regain eye contact with Massey. He tried to tell her to drop the pot, but she stopped and opened fire.
Grayson is seen peering around the corner of the counter approximately 30 seconds after he first opened fire.
After Massey was killed, prosecutors said Grayson also discouraged the other officer from going to get his medical kit.
“The other officer continued to render aid and remained with Ms. Massey until medical help arrived,” First Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Rodgers wrote.
He added that Grayson “at no point attempted to provide assistance to Ms. Massey.”
The video also shows Grayson refused to turn on his body camera until after he shot Massey.
Massey’s family held a funeral service for him on Friday, where they were accompanied by civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump.
Crump has represented the families of many Black victims of police shootings, including Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.
Crump’s personal injury firm released a statement Monday morning, revealing that the Massey family would be speaking “with several national leaders on Monday.”
Before the video was released, Crump called it “disturbing” and predicted it would “shock the conscience of America.”
Sonya’s uncle, Raymond Massey, spoke out today and thanked Illinois State Police for their work in investigating the shooting. He also thanked prosecutors for filing charges against Grayson.
He said Sonya “was a beautiful person” who “spread love.”
(tags to translate)dailymail
