US prosecutors have launched physique digicam footage displaying an Illinois sheriff’s deputy taking pictures an unarmed 36-year-old black lady within the face in her residence after she known as 911 to report a prowler. The deputy fired three photographs, with one bullet hitting Sonya Massey within the face, killing her. The video reveals Massey making an attempt to dodge the bullet with out success.
The pictures, made public on Monday (July 22), emerged 5 days after Officer Sean Grayson was charged with first-degree homicide on Wednesday.
On July 6, Grayson and one other officer responded to Massey’s 911 name. After looking out the property and discovering a automobile had been damaged into however discovering no prowlers, they entered her residence and had a seemingly regular dialog along with her for 18 minutes.
Nevertheless, the scenario turned lethal when Grayson ordered Massey to drop a pot of sizzling water after which shot him within the face.
Grayson faces fees of first-degree homicide, aggravated assault with a firearm and official misconduct following an in depth investigation by the Illinois State Police and the Sangamon County State Lawyer’s Workplace.
Based on information, he’s at present being held on the Menard County Detention Middle.
If convicted of the homicide fees, Grayson might face life in jail, The Washington Put up studies.
Civil rights legal professional Ben Crump, who represents Massey’s household, known as the taking pictures “heinous” and “mindless in each method.”
“She [Massey] “I wanted a serving to hand. I did not want a bullet within the face,” Crump stated.
The video reveals Grayson and the opposite officer strolling into the kitchen, the place Grayson seen a pot on the range.
Massey pulled out the pot and, as the opposite officer backed into the lounge, requested, “The place are you going?”
Grayson replied, “Away out of your sizzling, steamy water.”
Massey then stated, “I rebuke you within the title of Jesus.”
Grayson warned him to not do it: “I swear to God I will shoot you within the face.”
He then pulled out his gun and pointed it at him, regardless of being coated and at far.
Massey hid behind the cupboards and stated, “Okay, I am sorry.”
Grayson approached her, yelled aggressively at her and fired three photographs, hitting her as soon as within the face.
Massey, 36, was rushed to HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, the place she later died, the Washington Put up reported.
President Joe Biden responded to the incident.
“Sonya Massey, a beloved mom, buddy, daughter, and younger Black lady, must be alive right now. Sonya’s loss of life by the hands of a police officer reminds us that too typically, Black Individuals face fears for his or her security in methods many people don’t,” President Biden wrote in X.
Massey’s household is demanding justice, and her father, James Wilburn, has challenged Home Speaker Mike Johnson to deliver the laws to the ground and have representatives vote on it.
“Each member of Congress ought to vote right now,” he stated, “in order that nobody else in these United States of America has to undergo what we’re going by way of,” the Washington Put up reported.
