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Sonya Massey, 36, was shot in the face by police after an argument over a pot of boiling water.
Now the film is spreading that makes President Joe Biden furious.
– Sonya Massey should be alive today, he says.
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On the evening of July 6th, Sonya Massey called Illinois State Police after seeing a person loitering outside her house.
Sangamon County Deputy Sheriff Sean Grayson and his colleague responded to the address and spoke with Massey for several minutes before letting him inside.
The video from the colleague’s body camera, which was published on Monday, shows Sonya Massey going to the kitchen and turning off the stove where a pot of boiling water is. Grayson’s camera wasn’t on.
– Step away from your hot, boiling water, says Sean Grayson.
– I rebuke you in the name of Jesus, replies Sonya Massey.
– You damn well don’t, or I swear to god I’ll shoot you in your goddamn face, says Grayson.
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full screen The police rushed to the address after Sonya called about a person she saw walking around outside the house. Photo: John O’Connor/AP
“I’ll shoot you in the face”
The police then raise their service weapon at the woman who crouches down and says “I’m sorry”.
Then three rapid shots are fired.
The police colleague asks if he should collect the first aid kit.
– No, it’s done. You can go get it, but it’s a head shot,” Grayson says, starting to swear.
– I’m not going to get any boiling damn water against my damn head. Look, it came right at our feet.
Illinois State Police’s review shows that Grayson was not authorized to use deadly force, state Attorney General John Milhiser said in a statement, according to NBC.
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full screenSonya, 36. Photo: AP
Biden’s words
Grayson has now been charged with murder and aggravated assault, but denies the charges himself. He has also been fired from his job.
– Although no one can take back this officer’s heinous actions, we hope that justice will hold him accountable. We will demand transparency every step of the way, said civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Massey’s family.
Even US President Joe Biden has come out and defended Massey and her family.
“Sonya Massey, a beloved mother, friend, daughter and young black woman, should be alive today. Sonya’s death at the hands of a police officer reminds us that black Americans are too often afraid for their safety in a way that many of the rest of us are not,” he writes on X and continues:
“Sonya’s family deserves justice. My heart bleeds for her children and family because of their unimaginable loss. Jill and I mourn with the rest of the country and our prayers go out to Sonya’s family, and their loved ones.”