Illinois Police Share Video From a Body Cam Showing the Shooting Death of a Black Woman in Her Home
Monday, body camera video of the shooting death of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who had called 911 for help, by police was made public. This is part of a case that has led to murder charges being brought against a deputy.
A court document filed by prosecutors says that Massey called 911 on July 6 to report a possible “prowler” at her Springfield home. The 36-minute video released by the Illinois State Police includes body-cam footage from each of the two Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies who responded to her home after midnight that same day.
Deputy Sean Grayson and another deputy talk to Massey quietly in her home while she turns off a pot of boiling water on the stove. Then she picks up the pot, and the other officer tells her to move away from the hot water.
In answer, she says, “I scold you in the name of Jesus.”
The deputy says, “Huh?”
She says it again and again, “I scold you in the name of Jesus.”
Grayson tells them, “You better not. I swear to God I’ll f**king shoot you in the f**king face.”
Then he pulls out his gun and points it at her. The video shows that she ducks, says “I’m sorry,” and lifts the pot.
“Put down the f**king pot!” Two cops yell.
You can hear three shots. There is silence for a moment, then one of the deputies reports “shots fired” and calls for help.
He said, “Dude, I’m not going to boil you in water.” “And look, it even came up to us,” Grayson says.
A few minutes after the killing, Grayson talks to another police officer. In the video, he says, “She came at me with boiling water.” “She came at me with boiling water and said she was going to scold me in the name of Jesus.”