What we know about the murder of Sonya Massey, a black mother shot dead by a white police officer after calling for help

The Springfield, Illinois, woman was shot in the head in her home by a police officer, according to footage released by state police Monday.

A recording that changes everything. The Illinois State Police released on Monday, July 22, the images from the intervention camera worn by the colleague of the police officer who shot Sonya Massey in her home.in Springfield, on July 6. In the footage, we can clearly see white police officer Sean Grayson, charged with voluntary manslaughter, shooting the 36-year-old black American woman three times, even though she poses no threat. Franceinfo takes stock of what we know about this racist murder that is shaking up the United States, a few months before the American presidential election.

A damning 36-minute video

According to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, Sonya Massey called police shortly after midnight Saturday, July 6, because she suspected a possible break-in attempt at her home. Video footage from Massey’s colleague’s body-worn camera Sean Grayson shows that the two police officers arrive on the scene and knock on Sonya Massey’s door for the first time at 1:12 a.m. She opens the door four minutes later, at 1:16 a.m. “What took you so long to open the door?”Sean Grayson then asks her. “I was putting on clothes, I’m sorry”replies Sonya Massey, who seems disoriented and appears to have difficulty understanding and answering the police officers’ questions.

“Are you mentally well?”Sean Grayson then asks, to which Sonya Massey replies: “Yes, I took my medication.” Before concluding the exchange, the police officer then asks her to show him her identity papers and enters the black woman’s living room, followed by his colleague. It is 1:18 a.m., according to the images in the video. As she searches for her identity papers, one of the police officers orders her to turn off a pot of water boiling on the stove “to prevent a fire”. Sonya Massey complies and the officers back away. She asks them why and one of them laughingly replies that he wants “to move away from his boiling water”. Sonya Massey calmly reproaches him for this attitude, saying: “Oh, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”.

“You shouldn’t. I swear to God I’ll shoot your fucking head.”then throws at him Sean Grayson drawing his gun. “I’m sorry”Sonya Massey apologizes immediately, with a movement of stepping back to take shelter behind her counter. “Drop the fucking pot”the police officer cried out, opening fire a few seconds later, shooting three times and killing Sonya Massey in her kitchen. “I’m going to get my kit [de secours]“, then said the duo of Sean Grayson, who also pulled out his weapon, but did not fire. “No, it’s a bullet to the head, man, she’s dead”Sean Grayson replied. He then said he was afraid of being doused with boiling water.

At 1:24 a.m., reinforcements arrive on the scene. Sean Grayson then explains to the sheriff that Sonya Massey came at him with boiling water and admits to having shot her. The police officer finally comes out of the house, where many officers are waiting, and says to his colleagues: “Yeah I’m fine, that fucking bitch is just crazy”. “I think she had organized it on purpose (…), I had no choice”he justified again a few minutes later, while police officers brought a stretcher to transport the body of the African-American woman. According to the coroner Jim Allmon, she was pronounced dead at 1:47 a.m. at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, reports the State Journal-Registera local daily newspaper.

A demonstration organized by his family

A few days after his death, on July 12, the family of Sonya Massey organizes a demonstration of more than 100 people in front of the administration building of the Sangamon County, traces the State Journal-Register. Further demonstrations will take place on 15 and 16 July. to demand the release of images from the intervention cameras.

On July 17,ix days after the death of Sonya Massey, His family is allowed to view the footage. On the same day, Sean Grayson was arrested and charged with five counts, including voluntary manslaughter. The next day, during his trial, the police officer chose to plead not guilty to these five counts. Sonya Massey’s family decided to be represented by lawyer Ben Crump, known for having already represented the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, three African-Americans also killed by the police.

A “senseless” murder

Sonya Massey’s family lawyer called the murder a“foolish”. At a press conference, he also accused the police of initially trying to minimize their responsibility. The local sheriff, Jack Campbell, meanwhile, called the decision to open fire a“unjustifiable”, considering that the agent “had other options”.

President Joe Biden also reacted on Monday after the recording was released. “Sonya Massey, a mother, a friend, a daughter and a beloved young black woman, should be alive today”he laments in a press release. “When we call for help, all of us as Americans – no matter who we are or where we live – should be able to do so without fear for our lives.”underlines the American president.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, told attorney Ben Crump that she would speak with the victim’s family. “Sonya Massey deserved to be safe”she regrets in her own press release. “The disturbing images released yesterday confirm what we know from the experiences of so many: we have much work to do to ensure that our justice system lives up to its name.”concludes the first black woman to become vice president of the United States.