In the United States, a video shows a white police officer killing a black woman, Sonya Massey, after she called for help.

The woman was shot dead in her home because police officers said they feared she would be doused with water boiling in a pot. One of the officers has been charged with murder.

Her name was Sonya Massey. A black woman was shot dead by a white police officer on July 6 in Springfield, Illinois. The footage, taken from the officer’s body camera, was released Monday, July 22, by Illinois police. It shows the 36-year-old woman at home, calling the police because she suspects an attempted break-in, CBS News reports.

When they arrived at his home, two police officers asked him to turn off a pot of water that was boiling on the stove. “to prevent a fire”. When the woman asks him why, one of the police officers laughingly says that he wants “to move away from his boiling water”. Sonya Massey reproaches him for this attitude, saying calmly on two occasions: “Oh, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

“You shouldn’t. I swear to God I’ll shoot your fucking head.”one of the police officers then replies, taking out his weapon. The woman then crouches down behind a counter, the saucepan in her hands. The police officers shout at her: “Drop the fucking pot” and shots rang out. The officers later explained that they were afraid of being doused with boiling water.

The victim’s family’s attorney, Ben Crump, who is heavily involved in cases of police violence against black people, called the killing a“foolish”. He also said police initially tried to minimize their responsibility, according to the family, and pointed the finger at the neighborhood. Local Sheriff Jack Campbell called the decision to open fire a“unjustifiable”. The agent “had other options”he said. The latter was charged with murder.

This video made Joe Biden react. “When we call for help, all of us as Americans – whoever we are and wherever we live – should be able to do so without fear for our lives.”the president responded in a statement. For her part, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, plans to speak with the victim’s family.

In September 2023, experts mandated by the UN recalled that there was a “systemic and deep-rooted racism” towards the black community within the American police and judicial systems, a situation inherited from “slavery”.