New bodycam footage shows the final moments of a woman who called police over a suspected intruder before she was shot in the head by an officer.
Sonya Massey, 36, died after calling the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office about a suspected intruder outside her home in Springfield on 6 July, Illinois State Police have said.
Former deputy Sean Grayson is accused of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct, which he denies.
Footage from the bodycam of one of the officers who responded to Ms Massey’s call was released on Monday.
The clip caught the attention of President Joe Biden who said the 36-year-old should still be alive and that he is “heartbroken” for her family.
“When we call for help, all of us as Americans – regardless of who we are or where we live – should be able to do so without fearing for our lives,” he said on Monday.
“Sonya’s death at the hands of a responding officer reminds us that all too often Black Americans face fears for their safety in ways many of the rest of us do not.”
Vice President Kamala Harris also said in a statement: “Sonya Massey deserved to be safe. After she called the police for help, she was tragically killed in her own home at the hands of a responding officer sworn to protect and serve.”
She described the footage as “disturbing”, adding that it “confirms what we know from the lived experiences of so many – we have much work to do to ensure that our justice system fully lives up to its name”.
Sean Grayson’s police mugshot. Pic: Reuters/Illinois State Police
Grayson and another officer arrived at Ms Massey’s home at 1am on 6 July, knocking at the door a few times before she opened it.
Ms Massey can be seen saying: “Please don’t hurt me,” to which Grayson responds: “Why would I hurt you? You called us.”
The officers then assure her they have searched the outside of the house and not found anyone.
Grayson asks Ms Massey if she feels mentally well, to which she says yes.
The officers then ask her if the car with smashed-in windows in the driveway is hers. She says it isn’t and that someone else parked it there.
Ms Massey thanks them, saying: “I love ya’ll, thank ya’ll.”
Sonya Massey on bodycam footage. Pic: Reuters/Illinois State Police
The officers enter the house to ask for her details and go to the kitchen, where there is a boiling saucepan of water on the hob.
Ms Massey takes the saucepan off the stove and asks the officers: “Where you goin’?”
Grayson says: “Away from your hot, steaming water.”
Ms Massey replies: “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
The footage shows Ms Massey remaining in the kitchen – not approaching the officers with the saucepan.
Grayson is then heard saying: “You better f***ing not I swear to God I’ll f***ing shoot you in your f***ing face.”
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Sean Grayson points his gun at Sonya Massey. Pic: Reuters/Illinois State Police
Drop the f***ing pot
He pulls out his gun, screaming: “Drop the f***ing pot.”
Ms Massey says: “Okay, I’m sorry.”
Three gunshots are heard and Ms Massey is seen dropping the pot as she ducks.
Later in the clip, she is seen with a pool of blood around her head, gasping, although her face is blurred in the footage.
The other officers offer to get emergency medical equipment, to which Grayson says: “Nah, headshot dude, she’s done. You can go get it but that’s a headshot.”
He adds: “Yeah I’m not taking f***in boiling hot water to the f***ing head. Hey look, it f***ing came right to our feet.”
The other officer says: “We can at least try and hold the, stop the blood.”
When Grayson is told by another officer who enters the house there is nothing to be done, he says: “All right, I’m not even going to waste my med stuff then.”
He explains: “She had boiling water and came at me with boiling water.”
Outside, another officer asks if he is okay, to which he replies: “Yeah I’m good this f***ing b**** is crazy.”
The other officer stays with Ms Massey holding a towel against her head until paramedics arrive.
She was taken to hospital but pronounced dead soon after, state police said.
Donna Massey on a march for her daughter Sonya. Pic: Reuters/Illinois State Police
After a use-of-force review, it was found that Grayson was justified in pointing his gun at Ms Massey to get her to comply – but not in shooting her.
Sangamon County Sherriff Jack Campbell said Grayson had been fired from the force because he “did not act as trained or in accordance with our standards.
In a statement he added that Ms Massey “needlessly lost her life”.
“Grayson had other options available that he should have used,” he said.
“His actions were inexcusable and do not reflect the values or training of our office. He will now face judgment by the criminal justice system and will never again work in law enforcement.”
Grayson’s next court date is 26 August.
