The bodycam footage of Sonya Massey, a black woman from Illinois, getting shot by a white police officer was released Monday under the authority of the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s office.
The release of the video has been delayed at the request of Massey’s family, but this afternoon it was published to the Illinois State Police’s YouTube account.
Deputies first arrived on Massey’s doorstep in Springfield on July 6 after she called 911 to report a possible prowler in the area at around 1am.
By 1.21 am, Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson is seen on his partner’s body cam drawing his weapon. He pointed his 9mm pistol at Massey, 36, who was holding a pot of boiling water in the kitchen.
Seconds after telling her to drop that pot, she ducked and said ‘I’m sorry,’ before Grayson shot her in the face.
A deputy’s body cam shows Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson on Sonya Massey doorstep on July 6 after she called them to report a prowler
The moment before Grayson shoots Massey in her kitchen
Following the shooting, Grayson was fired and charged with first degree murder.
Before she was shot, Massey and the officers appeared to argue over the pot, which had boiling water in it.
Prosecutors alleged that Grayson ‘aggressively yelled’ at Massey to move it from the stove to the counter.
She took it off and then said, ‘I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.’
This is when Grayson pulled out his 9mm handgun and said: ‘I swear to God I’ll shoot you in your f***king face.’
Both officers – who had their weapons unholstered – ordered her to drop the pot. She then apologized for what she said and ducked behind the counter.
Grayson went around the corner of the counter to regain visual contact with Massey. He tried to tell her to drop the pot, but cut himself off and opened fire.
Grayson is seen peeking around the corner of the counter roughly 30 seconds after first opening fire
After Massey was killed, prosecutors said Grayson also discouraged the other deputy from getting his medical kit.
‘The other deputy still rendered aid and stayed with Ms. Massey until medical help arrived,’ First Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Rodgers wrote.
She added that Grayson ‘at no time attempted to render aid to Ms. Massey.’
The video also shows that Grayson declined to turn on his body cam until after he shot Massey.
Massey’s family held funeral services for her on Friday, where they were accompanied by civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump.
Crump has represented many the families of many black police shooting victims, including Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd.
Crump’s personal injury firm released a statement Monday morning, revealing that the Massey family would be speaking ‘with several national leaders on Monday.’
‘It is a very disturbing video,’ the civil rights attorney said. ‘It will shock America’s conscience.’
He added that the names Grayson called Massey in the video were ‘outrageous on every level’ and showed a lack of humanity.
Raymond Massey, Sonya’s uncle, also spoke at a news conference and thanked the Illinois State Police for its work on the investigation of the shooting. He also thanked prosecutors for bringing charges against Grayson.
He said Sonya ‘was a beautiful person’ who ‘spread love.’