Video of fatal Sonya Massey shooting released; officer charged with murder

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

A SHERIFF’S DEPUTY IN ILLINOIS IS FACING MURDER CHARGES –

AFTER BODY CAM FOOTAGE SHOWS HIM SHOOTING AND KILLING A 36-YEAR-OLD MOTHER OF TWO OVER A POT OF BOILING WATER.

IT HAPPENED IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JULY 6TH IN SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

THAT’S WHEN SONYA MASSEY CALLED 911 TO REPORT SOMEONE OUTSIDE HER HOME.

DEPUTIES ARRIVE AND KNOCK ON MASSEY’S DOOR.                   

She can BE SEEN STANDING ON HER PORCH TALKING WITH THEM.

SHE SAYS SHE NEEDS HELP BECAUSE SHE HEARD SOMEONE OUTSIDE.

DEPUTY SEAN GRAYSON TELLS HER THAT HE AND HIS PARTNER HAVE CHECKED THE AREAS AROUND HER HOME – INCLUDING HER NEIGHBOR’S YARD AND THAT THEY DIDN’T SEE OR FIND ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS.

MASSEY ALLOWS THE TWO DEPUTIES INSIDE HER HOME. 

AS SHE’S SITTING ON THE COUCH, THE DEPUTIES ASK HER NAME AND ASK FOR IDENTIFICATION.

DEPUTY: “DO YOU HAVE AN ID? THAT WOULD MAKE THINGS SO MUCH EASIER. JUST A DRIVER’S LICENSE WILL DO.”

 [LAUREN TAYLOR]

WHILE SEARCHING FOR HER ID, THE DEPUTIES HEAR A SOUND COMING FROM THE KITCHEN. IT’S BOILING WATER ON A STOVETOP. DEPUTY GRAYSON ASKS MASSEY TO TURN OFF THE STOVE BECAUSE THEY DON’T NEED A FIRE.

NAT: *DEPUTY ASKS HER TO CHECK ON PUT, YOU HEAR OTHER DEPUT SAY WE DON’T NEED A FIRE*

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

MASSEY TAKES THE POT OF BOILING WATER OFF THE STOVE AND YOU CAN SEE DEPUTY GRAYSON STARTS BACKING AWAY. MASSEY ASKS HIM WHERE HE’S GOING.

DEPUTY GRAYSON SAYS “AWAY FROM YOUR HOT STEAMING WATER.”

MASSEY RESPONDS AND SAYS “AWAY FROM MY HOT STEAMING WATER? I REBUKE YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS.”

GRAYSON: “AWAY FROM YOUR HOT STEAMING WATER.”

MASSEY: “AWAY FROM MY HOT STEAMING WATER? I REBUKE YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS.”

DEPUTY GRAYSON: “HUH?”

MASSEY: “I REBUKE YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

DEPUTY GRAYSON RESPONDS TO MASSEY USING PROFANITY SAYING SHE BETTER NOT OR HE’LL SHOOT HER IN HER FACE. (EXACT QUOTE: YOU’D BETTER F***ING NOT. I SWEAR TO GOD, I’LL F***ING SHOOT YOU RIGHT IN YOUR F***ING FACE!”)

YOU CAN HEAR MASSEY SAY SHE’S SORRY AND SEE HER DUCK FOR COVER —

AS DEPUTY GRAYSON DRAWS HIS GUN AND TELLS HER TO DROP THE POT OF WATER.

YOU CAN SEE MASSEY HOLDING THE POT OVER HER HEAD.

HE ASKS HER AGAIN TO DROP THE POT WHEN HE FIRES THREE ROUNDS – STRIKING MASSEY IN THE FACE.

YOU CAN HEAR THE DEPUTIES RADIO FOR HELP.

THE OTHER DEPUTY SAYS HE’S GOING TO GET HIS MEDICAL KIT —  WHEN GRAYSON TELLS HIM HE CAN BUT THAT SHE’S DONE FOR SINCE SHE WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD.

ABOUT A MINUTE AFTER THE SHOOTING, GRAYSON ASKS THE OTHER DEPUTY “WHAT ELSE WERE WE GOING TO DO?” HE SAID HE WASN’T ABOUT TO TAKE A POT OF BOILING WATER TO THE FACE. 

THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE WAS PRESENTED TO A GRAND JURY WHICH RETURNED AN INDICTMENT AGAINST THE GRAYSON. 

MASSEY’S FATHER SPOKE AT A NEWS CONFERENCE AFTER THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE WAS RELEASED.

(James Wilburn, Father of Sonya Massey)

“But you know what I want? I want justice for my baby. You killed the wrong Black woman this time.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

PRESIDENT BIDEN RELEASED A STATEMENT MONDAY SAYING IN PART:

“Sonya Massey, a beloved mother, friend, daughter, and young Black woman, should be alive today. Sonya called the police because she was concerned about a potential intruder. When we call for help, all of us as Americans – regardless of who we are or where we live – should be able to do so without fearing for our lives. Sonya’s death at the hands of a responding officer reminds us that all too often Black Americans face fears for their safety in ways many of the rest of us do not.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

GRAYSON IS CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, AGGRAVATED BATTERY WITH A FIREARM AND OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT.

HE WAS FIRED AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ALL THE CHARGES.

FOR SAN, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR…

FOR MORE UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS, DOWNLOAD THE SAN APP.