Sangamon County, Illinois’ sheriff’s office has released body camera footage captured by Deputy Sean Grayson on July 6, when he shot and killed Sonya Massey, 36, in her home after she called 911 to report a suspected intruder.
In the video, Grayson instructs Massey — a Black woman — to step away from a pot of boiling water on the stove in her kitchen. Massey can be heard saying, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” to which Grayson responds: “You better fucking not, or I swear to God I’ll fucking shoot you in the fucking face.” When Grayson reveals his gun, pointing it at Massey, the woman states, “I’m sorry,” while apparently ducking and lifting the pot.
Three shots were fired shortly after both deputies could be heard yelling: “Drop the fucking pot.” Of the three shots Grayson fired, one struck Massey in the face. When the other deputy present announces that he is going to retrieve an aid kit, Grayson tells him: “Nah, she’s done. You can go get it, but that’s a headshot … Dude, I’m not taking fucking boiling water to the fucking head. And look, it came right to our feet, too.”
Grayson has been indicted on three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, and one count of official misconduct. He has been denied pretrial release and entered a not-guilty plea. A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 26 at 9 a.m. “It is clear that the deputy did not act as trained or in accordance with our standards,” Sheriff Jack Campbell wrote in a statement. “Therefore, Sean Grayson’s employment with the Sheriff’s Office has been terminated.”
According to court documents, per CNN, Grayson’s body camera was not activated until after the fatal shots were fired at Massey. The other deputy began filming upon their arrival at the scene at around 12:50 a.m. The shots were fired at around 1:21 a.m.
In the afternoon of July 6, the Sangamon County sheriff’s office published a statement on social media detailing the fatal shooting. “Deputies immediately administered first aid until EMS arrived,” the office stated. “The woman was transported to St. John’s Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased. No deputies were injured during the incident.”
Massey’s funeral was held on Friday, July 19. Speaking with reporters ahead of the gathering, civil rights attorney Ben Crump stated that the contents of the video footage from the shooting would “shock the conscience of America like the pictures of Emmett Till after he was lynched.” Crump, who is representing Massey’s family, has previously represented the families of Tyre Nichols, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and more.
“It is that senseless, that unnecessary, that unjustifiable, that unconstitutional,” Crump said. “This video is tragic in every sense.”