The shocking murder of a Black American woman, Sonya Massey by a white police officer has sparked widespread outcry online with the release of the body camera footage on Monday, July 23 which revealed events leading to the horrific scene.
How it started
It all started when 36-year-old Sonya Massey called 911 for help on July 6 regarding a possible ‘intruder’. According to reports, two Sangamon Court sheriff’s deputies responded to Massey’s call around 12.50 am at her home in Springfield, Illinois.
In the footage, Massey was questioned for taking a long time to answer the door by one of the deputies, Sean Grayson to which she replied ‘I was trying to put on some clothes, sir. I’m sorry. He then asked ‘you doing alright mentally’ and she replied ‘yes’.
The deputies had searched the property and found no intruder. However, things quickly escalated when Grayson asked Massey to check on the stove saying ‘We don’t need a fire while we are here’.
Massey in the video is seen picking up the pot which may have triggered Grayson who said ‘Why did you move back? Where are you going? “away from your hot, steaming water”. Massey responds “Away from my hot, steaming water? I rebuke you in the name of Jesus”.
“Huh?” Grayson says. “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” she repeats.
“You better f**king not or I swear to God I’ll f**king shoot you in the f**king face,” Grayson says. He then draws his gun and points it at her, and she ducks and says, “I’m sorry” while putting down the pot.
“Drop the f**king pot!” Grayson yelled before he fired shots at her in the face three times.
Grayson then tries to discourage his partner from offering first aid to Massey who is still breathing. “She’s done!!! You can go get it, but that’s a headshot,” he said.
Massey is taken to HSHS St. John’s Hospital emergency room where she is pronounced dead. She died of a single gunshot wound, autopsy findings said. Born February 12, 1988, she was a mother to a boy and a girl.
According to reports, Grayson told law enforcement authorities after the shooting. “She had boiling water and came at me with boiling water,”. “She said she was going to rebuke me in the name of Jesus and came at (me) with boiling water,” he says.
Aftermath and call for justice
On July 12, a 2-hour protest was staged calling for the release of the body cam footage. Grayson who has been fired was indicted on five counts and is being held in the Sangamon County Jail without bond. He faces a prison sentence of 45 years to life for murder if convicted. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Investigations also revealed Grayson’s history of employment across six different police departments in just under 4 years from August 11, 2020, to July 17, 2024.
Massey was buried on Friday, July 19 at the Ruby Funeral Services & Chapel. Following the release of the footage on Monday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris called for justice for Massey.
“I am heartbroken for her children and her entire family as they face this unthinkable and senseless loss. Jill and I mourn with the rest of the country and our prayers are with Sonya’s family, loved ones, and community during this devastating time,” Biden said.
Sonya Massey joins the growing list of black women killed by police in their homes including Atatiana Jefferson. Her family is represented by prominent civil rights attorney, Ben Crump who has handled several high-profile cases of police brutality including George Floyd.
Massey suffered from mental health issues, her family said.