Authorities have released a distressing bodycam video showing the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, by Deputy Sean Grayson of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in Springfield, Illinois. Massey had called 911 early on July 6, fearing there was an intruder attempting to break into her home.
The footage shows deputies arriving at Massey’s residence around 1 a.m., discovering a black SUV with broken windows in the driveway. After knocking, Massey opened the door three minutes later, visibly distressed and pleading, “Don’t hurt me.” During their initial conversation, she expressed confusion, repeatedly asking for help and mentioning God.
Inside the house, Deputy Grayson noticed a pot of boiling water on the stove and asked Massey to remove it to prevent a fire. As she complied, the officers distanced themselves, prompting Massey to ask where they were going. Grayson replied lightheartedly that they were moving away from the hot water.
However, the situation quickly escalated when Grayson approached Massey with his gun drawn as she began to kneel behind a counter with her hands raised. Despite her compliance, Grayson threatened to shoot her, and when Massey briefly stood up, he fired his pistol three times, fatally wounding her.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Massey’s family, compared the incident to the infamous 1955 lynching of Emmitt Till, the Chicago police shooting of Laquan McDonald, and the Minneapolis police murder of George Floyd. Speaking at Massey’s funeral, Crump highlighted the alarming pattern of police violence against Black individuals, emphasizing the need for accountability and justice.
The release of the video has sparked outrage and calls for a thorough investigation into Deputy Grayson’s actions, as the community and Massey’s family seek answers and justice for the tragic loss of a woman who had reached out for help in a moment of fear.