ILLINOIS – Authorities have released bodycam footage capturing the fatal shooting of 36-year-old Sonya Massey by Illinois deputy Sean Grayson.
The incident occurred after Massey, a paranoid-schizophrenic, called the police believing someone was attempting to break into her home.
The Incident Unfolds
The footage begins with officers arriving at Massey’s residence in response to her distress call.
They instructed Massey to remove a pot of boiling water from the stove, a routine safety precaution. However, the situation quickly escalated when Massey questioned why the officers were stepping back.
“Away from your hot steaming water,” one officer responded.
A Misunderstanding Turns Tragic
As Massey approached the stove, she appeared to threaten to throw the boiling water at the officers. In response, they drew their firearms.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Massey immediately apologized, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Despite her apology, Deputy Grayson, fearing she would act on her threat, fired three shots.
One of the bullets struck Massey under the eye and exited through her neck, resulting in her death.
WATCH THE RELEASED FOOTAGE:
NEW: Authorities release footage of Illinois deputy Sean Grayson k*lling 36-year-old Sonya Massey who called the police because she thought someone tried breaking into her home.
Horrific.
Massey, who was a paranoid-schizophrenic, was told to take boiling water off the… pic.twitter.com/h5dZlAUgg8
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 23, 2024
Legal Consequences
Grayson was subsequently arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
He is currently being held without bond (bail), facing serious legal repercussions for his actions.
The release of the footage has sparked widespread outrage and h0rror, highlighting issues surrounding police interactions with individuals suffering from mental health conditions.
Many are calling for increased training and better protocols to handle such situations more compassionately and effectively.