by AD Nachalo
Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, was murdered this month by Sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson who responded to her 911 call. Massey had called law enforcement seeking help and reporting a prowler, only to be shot dead in her own home when the police arrived. Sheriff’s deputy Grayson has been charged with three counts of first degree murder and has been fired from the department. He has pled not guilty.
Law enforcement has misled the victim’s father, who, until his son informed him of the truth, had been under the impression given by the police that his daughter had been killed by the prowler. The family is now fighting for justice for their loved one.
Massey is not the only Black woman in the US to have been murdered in her own home by police in recent years; her death follows the high profile case of Breonna Taylor, who was murdered in her home in Louisville, Kentucky by police in 2020.
Grayson worked at six agencies in the past four years and had two prior arrests for drunk driving before entering law enforcement in 2020, the year that mass uprisings threw police departments into a hiring frenzy in response to the mass defection of officers.
On Monday, the Illinois State Police released body camera footage of the two officers who entered Massey’s home. Grayson’s camera had been turned off until after he killed Massey. The body camera of the other officer shows Massey talking calmly with both officers before picking up a pot of water on the stove. The other officer moves back and deputy Grayson escalates by threatening to shoot Massey: “I swear to God I’ll shoot you in the fucking face,” he shouts. Grayson draws his gun and points it at Massey who ducks and says “I’m sorry.” While both deputies yell “drop the fucking pot,” three shots are fired, killing Massey.
In the footage, Grayson informs his partner that the victim will not need medical attention. The other deputy says that he is going to get a medical kit and attempt to render aid. “You can go get it but that’s a head shot,” Grayson replies, and later states that he is not going to waste his own medical supplies.
After leaving the house, Grayson speaks to a group of officers who arrived at the scene and tells them in regard to his victim, “this fucking bitch is crazy.”
Experts on legal force at the court hearing have argued that Grayson put himself in harm’s way to justify the killing. The conduct of the deputies involved, the use of profanity and quick escalation are typical of the police when interacting with Black people, and Massey’s death is part of the age-old police terror against the people.
Photo: Deputy Sean Grayson and another deputy have their guns drawn on Massey moments before shooting her dead in her kitchen. Retrieved from police body cam footage from CNN
