THE INCIDENT

In a shocking incident, Sonya Massey, a resident of Springfield, Illinois, was shot fatally by local sheriff’s deputy, Sean Grayson. Massey had initially called 911 to report a suspected prowler, only to lose her life when things took a dire turn. The incident, caught on bodycam, shows a failed attempt to de-escalate the tense situation.

THE BODYCAM FOOTAGE

The footage reveals 36-year-old Massey apologizing and ducking seconds prior to the fatal shot being fired from Grayson’s gun. Grayson, from across the counter, had shouted at Massey to put down a pot of water from the stove, and upon Massey’s non-compliance, Grayson threatened to shoot her, before ultimately carrying out his threat. In the moments prior to her fatal shooting, Massey is seen pleading, saying, “OK, I’m sorry.”

On Site Events

The bodycam footage reveals the sequence of events, starting from 1 a.m. of July 6, where two deputies, including Grayson, responded to Massey’ call and arrivied at her residence. On entering her home, they found her seemingly confused and nervous, constantly asserting her need for help.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Grayson noticed a pot on the stove with a visible flame under it, upon which Massey immediately moves to get the pot. After a moment of shared laughter, she said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” an exclamation to which Grayson retorts, “You better (expletive) not or I swear to God I’ll (expletive) shoot you in your (expletive) face.” It was then he commanded her to drop the pot. She apologizes and ducks, holding two oven mitts. In the video, Grayson can be seen pulling his 9mm pistol and aiming at her.

AFTERMATH AND REACTIONS

The fatal shot to Massey’s head sent shockwaves throughout the community and renewed conversations regarding law enforcement excessive use of force. Prosecutors charged Grayson with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. He was subsequently indicted by an Illinois grand jury, remanded in Sangamon County Jail sans bond and faces possible life imprisonment if convicted of murder.

Community and National Response

Reactions to the incident have been swift and intense. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul referred to the footages as ‘horrific’, while President Joe Biden expressed his prayers for Massey’s family as they grapple with an ‘unthinkable and senseless loss.’

The incident was indicative of the fear Black Americans often face when dealing with law enforcement. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Massey’s family, compared the incident to the lynching of Emmitt Till, the shooting of Laquan McDonald, and the murder of George Floyd.