Sonya Massey’s family says she is a descendant of William Donnegan, who was lynched by a white mob during violent racist attacks that led to the creation of the NAACP.
Massey was taken to the same hospital as her ancestor Donnegan, the family said https://t.co/ckbtFCgUPw
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 22, 2024
The body camera footage of a Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy fatally shooting Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, in Springfield, Illinois, has sparked national outrage and calls for legislative action. The incident occurred after Massey called the police, fearing a home intruder, and the situation escalated rapidly following a dispute over a pot of boiling water. In the video, Deputy Sean Grayson can be heard warning Massey before firing three shots, hitting her in the face as she tried to take cover behind the kitchen counter.
TW: Officials have released body camera footage showing the events leading up to
deputy Sean Grayson shooting and killing Sonya Massey after she called the police for help https://t.co/TMYFycH8jU pic.twitter.com/HVrVkc9Hls— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 22, 2024
After the shooting, another deputy is heard saying he was going to get his medical kit, to which Grayson responds, “No, a headshot, dude, she’s done.” Grayson later referred to Massey as “fucking crazy.”
Bodycam video reveals chaotic scene of deputy fatally shooting Black woman who called 911 for help | AP News https://t.co/ywlZiIyqAL
— darlene superville (@dsupervilleap) July 22, 2024
President Joe Biden, in his first public statement since dropping his bid for re-election, expressed his condolences and highlighted the need for systemic change.
Bodycam video prompts national outrage
He urged Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which addresses issues in policing practices, including excessive force and racial bias and increases accountability for law enforcement misconduct.
Body cam footage released Monday shows the shocking moments when Sonya Massey was fatally shot in the face by a deputy after she called 911 for help. Violence against Black women MUST STOP! We must demand FULL JUSTICE for Sonya Massey! pic.twitter.com/FlAiuCiSg0
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) July 23, 2024
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, representing Massey’s family, compared the video to historical instances of racial violence, such as the killing of Emmett Till in 1955 and the police murders of Laquan McDonald and George Floyd. Local community members have reacted strongly to the video, expressing anger and concern over the incident and broader issues of police militarization and neglect of community services. Grayson has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and is being held without bond until his trial begins.
The call for justice and the push for legislative change continue as the nation grapples with the implications of this latest police shooting.
