July 23rd 2024.
The community was bracing itself for the release of the body cam footage of Sonya Massey's tragic death. Many Twitter users had warned that it would be graphic and traumatizing. But on July 22, the Sangamon County State's Attorney decided to make the video public despite initial plans to postpone it due to Massey's funeral.
The video revealed a disturbing scene - a woman who had called for help was shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy, Sean Grayson. Massey had called 911 in the early morning hours of July 6, reporting a possible intruder in her home. Two deputies, including Grayson, responded to the call. One had his body cam on, as per protocol, but Grayson had not activated his until after he shot Massey.
According to WAND News, the deputies reported that shots had been fired around 1:21 am. The prosecution claimed that Grayson had instructed Massey to move a pot of water that was heating up on the stove. But before she could do so, he aggressively yelled at her and pulled out his service weapon. Despite her compliance and attempts to seek cover, Grayson shot her in the face. Experts later determined that Massey was not a reasonable threat at the time of the shooting.
What's more troubling is that Grayson made no attempt to help Massey after shooting her. The other deputy on the scene, however, rendered aid and stayed with her until medical help arrived. As reported by Mary Rodgers, the first assistant state attorney, Grayson did not make any effort to assist Massey.
According to Time Magazine, the situation had escalated after Massey told the deputies, "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus." Grayson seemed to take offense and responded, "You better f-cking not, I swear to God. I'll f-cking shoot you right in your f-cking face." This aggressive behavior ultimately led to Grayson being charged with first-degree murder and fired from his job. He also faces additional charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.
During Massey's funeral, attorney Benjamin Crump compared the footage to those of Emmett Till, George Floyd, LaQuan McDonald, and Breonna Taylor. Massey's father, James Wilburn, expressed his anger and disappointment towards Sheriff Jack Campbell, calling for his resignation within the next 12 hours. He also demanded full transparency in the hiring process of Grayson and access to all the evidence related to the case.
Crump, who is representing Massey's family, criticized Grayson's actions and pointed out that he could have handled the situation differently. He could have maintained a safe distance, used a taser, or called for backup. The State Journal Register reported that even criminologists were disturbed by the video, with many questions remaining unanswered.
Crump also drew attention to the lack of accountability for the deaths of Black women like Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, and Pamela Turner. He stated that America has blood on its hands, and justice must be served for Massey and her family. The community is still grappling with the senseless loss of a beloved mother, friend, and daughter. And the release of the body cam footage has only added to their pain and frustration.
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