Body camera video shows Illinois deputy fatally shooting Sonya Massey inside her home
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Authorities in Illinois released body camera footage on Monday showing the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black woman shot in the face by a white sheriff’s deputy after calling 911 for help earlier this month.
Massey, 36, was killed in the early morning of July 6 by former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson inside her home in Springfield, Illinois. The 36-minute video released by Illinois State Police revealed a chaotic scene after two deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a possible intruder at Massey's house.
In the footage, 30-year-old Grayson can be heard yelling at Massey over moving a pot of boiling water from the stove to the sink. He then threatens to shoot her in the face and screaming "drop the f***ing pot," according to the footage.
The video shows Massey ducking before Grayson fires at her three times. According to court documents, Grayson struck Massey once in the face. Massey died of a single gunshot wound, said Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon.
Grayson has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery and official misconduct. He remains in custody without bail.
At Massey's funeral on Friday, civil rights attorney Ben Crump said the video would "shock the conscience of America like the pictures of Emmett Till after he was lynched." The 1955 lynching of the 14-year-old in Mississippi helped galvanize the Civil Rights movement.
Crump added that the video would garner similar reactions to Laquan McDonald, who was shot by police 16 times in the back in Chicago in 2014, and George Floyd, who was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer during an arrest in 2020.
"It is that senseless, that unnecessary, that unjustifiable, that unconstitutional," Crump said. "This video is tragic in every sense."
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'She’s done... that's a headshot'
According to court documents, Grayson had not activated his body-worn camera until the shooting but the other responding deputy — who has not been named — had his camera activated after arriving at Massey's home.
The video shows Grayson and the other deputy speaking calmly with Massey outside of her home after the two deputies searched the area outside. The two enter the residence and continue speaking with Massey, asking for her identification card.
Grayson then noticed the pot of boiling water and tells Massey to move it to avoid starting a fire, according to the footage. The deputies distance themselves from her as she moves the pot.
"Where you going?" she asks them.
"Away from your hot steaming water,” Grayson says while laughing before Massey responds: "Away from the hot steaming water? Oh, I’ll rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
"Huh?" Grayson says as Massey repeats "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus."
"You better f***ing not or I swear to God I’ll f***ing shoot you in the f***ing face," the deputy responds before drawing his firearm at Massey.
Massey ducks and says, “I’m sorry," the video shows. Both deputies yell at her to drop the pot when three gunshots are heard in the video.
Grayson is then heard calling for EMS, reporting a headshot wound. A few seconds later, the other deputy says "I’m gonna go get my kit."
"... She’s done. You can go get it, but that’s a headshot," Grayson responds.
"Dude, I’m not taking f**king boiling water to the f***ing head. And look, it f***ing came right to our feet, too,” Grayson adds.
President Biden, Illinois officials react to 'horrifying' body camera footage
Illinois lawmakers are calling the body camera footage "shocking, horrifying and heartbreaking" following the video's release Monday afternoon.
State Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued a statement in response to the body camera footage, calling it "horrific.""I offer my deepest sympathy to Sonya Massey’s family as they relive a moment no family should experience," Raoul added. "As the community reacts to the release of the footage, I urge calm as this matter works its way through the criminal justice system."
President Joe Biden also weighed in on the video's release, saying "Sonya’s family deserves justice"
"I am heartbroken for her children and her entire family as they face this unthinkable and senseless loss," Biden said in a statement. "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."
The case has generated international attention and led to a number of protests, including one that drew about 200 people to the NAACP Office Building and Education Center in Springfield on Wednesday.
Illinois deputy terminated: 'did not act as trained'
Grayson was indicted on three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery with a firearm and one count of official misconduct. He pleaded not guilty in his first court appearance Thursday.
Grayson, a Riverton resident who had been with the sheriff's department since May 2023, has been terminated from his job, according to Sheriff Jack Campbell. The sheriff said in a statement Wednesday that Grayson "did not act as trained or in accordance with our standards" and his actions "do not reflect the values and training of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office or law enforcement as a whole."
An expert in the field of "use of force" reviewed the body camera footage as part of the Illinois State Police investigation and concluded that Grayson was not justified in the use of deadly force.
Grayson has worked in law enforcement since August 2020. He was with the Logan County Sheriff’s Office before being hired by Sangamon County in May 2023.
Contributing: Claire Grant, Springfield State Journal- Register
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; [email protected]; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Sonya Massey: Body camera footage in fatal shooting released
