Sonya Massey

2024 - 7 - 23

Police Called for Help, but Ended Up in a Tragic Turn of Events 🍽️➡️🔫

Bodycam Footage - Community Reaction - Criminal Justice Reform - Illinois Shooting - Police Violence - Racial Injustice - Sonya Massey

In a shocking twist of fate, Sonya Massey called 911 for protection but met her tragic end at the hands of the police. What went wrong?

In a harrowing incident that has sparked outrage across the nation, bodycam footage has surfaced showing the tragic fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, by former Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson. On July 6, Massey called 911 out of fear for her safety, believing an intruder was lurking outside her home in Springfield, Illinois. What unfurled thereafter is a stark reminder of the perils that can arise when help turns into horror. In a disturbing moment captured on camera, Massey, who was unarmed, was shot three times by Grayson after responding to police orders to put down a pot of boiling water, an act perceived as menacing in a moment of crisis.

The release of the bodycam footage has spurred immediate outcry from community leaders, family members, and officials alike. The father of the victim expressed his anguish and anger when he expressed, "Enough is enough!" He made it clear that the officer involved should never have fired his weapon in such a situation. Additionally, voices from academia, including a criminal justice professor from the University of Illinois Springfield, described the footage as one of the most distressing encounters they had ever witnessed. This incident has raised questions about training procedures and the decisions made by law enforcement in tense situations.

In the aftermath of the tragic event, public figures have sought to convey their condolences while also demanding accountability. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both expressed their sorrow over this preventable loss of life, emphasizing that Massey deserved a safe environment, especially when reaching out for help. Many have taken to social media, using the hashtags #JusticeForSonya and #BlackLivesMatter to rally support and demand justice for the unarmed woman whose call for help ended in tragedy.

As the investigation unfolds, residents in the area are calling for reform within law enforcement protocols for handling 911 calls and the appropriate responses from officers dispatched to such situations. This incident follows a broader pattern of similar fatal encounters in the US, which have raised profound conversations on race, policing, and community safety. However, despite the grim news of this tragedy, some local activists remain hopeful that this moment could serve as a catalyst for meaningful change within the police system.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "WABC-TV"

Bodycam video reveals chaotic scene of deputy fatally shooting ... (WABC-TV)

Illinois officials released bodycam video that shows ex-Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson fatally shot Sonya Massey in her home.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

'Enough is enough': father of Sonya Massey speaks out after release ... (The Guardian)

Sonya Massey was killed by an Illinois state police sheriff's deputy after being shot three times inside her home. Massey called 911 after fearing an ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The State Journal-Register"

'Where is the humanity?' Reacting to release of the Sonya Massey ... (The State Journal-Register)

A criminal justice professor at University of Illinois Springfield called the Sonya Massey body camera footage "one of the worst" he's seen.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Daily Mail"

Revealed: Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson who killed unarmed black ... (Daily Mail)

The father of the unarmed black woman who was shot dead by a sheriff's deputy inside of her kitchen alleges that officer in question should never have been ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "CNN"

Illinois police release bodycam video of fatal shooting of Black ... (CNN)

Body-camera footage showing the fatal police shooting of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who had called 911 for help, was released Monday in a case ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Hindustan Times"

Sonya Massey death: Joe Biden breaks silence after Illinois deputy ... (Hindustan Times)

President Joe Biden has responded to the killing of an unarmed Black woman, Sonya Massey, by an Illinois sheriff's deputy in her house.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Sun"

Horror bodycam shows cop fatally shoot black woman Sonya ... (The Sun)

HORRIFYING bodycam footage shows a cop fatally shooting a woman for picking up a pot in her own kitchen - after she called police for help.Sonya Masse.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Sonya Massey: Bodycam footage shows fatal police shooting (BBC News)

Sonya Massey was shot at her home after police told her to put down a pot of boiling water.

Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on Sonya Massey ... (The White House)

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.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Sky News"

Bodycam video shows Sonya Massey's final moments before she ... (Sky News)

Sonya Massey, 36, died after calling the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office about a suspected intruder outside her home in Springfield on 6 July.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "USA TODAY"

'Horrifying': Officials, lawmakers, Biden react to deputy shooting ... (USA TODAY)

Officials, including prosecutors, lawmakers and President Biden said they were shocked and devastated by the killing of Sonya Massey.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Kamala Harris joins calls for police reforms after Sonya Massey killing (The Guardian)

Vice-president says Black woman who was shot in her home by an Illinois sheriff's deputy 'deserved to be safe'

Post cover
Image courtesy of "CBS News"

Officials release video of officer fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her ... (CBS News)

Bodycam video of the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey was released Monday afternoon. The video shows the chaotic scene after a sheriff's deputy shot Massey, ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The State Journal-Register"

Video shows deputy in fatal Sonya Massey shooting say, 'I'll shoot ... (The State Journal-Register)

The 36-minute video showed Deputy Sean P. Grayson, who has been charged with Massey's murder, as saying "I can't take hot boiling water to the f***ing face" ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "KGO-TV"

Bodycam video reveals chaotic scene of deputy fatally shooting ... (KGO-TV)

Illinois officials released bodycam video that shows ex-Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson fatally shot Sonya Massey in her home.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The 19th News"

Police killing of Sonya Massey is striking example of another ... (The 19th News)

Body camera footage released from the shooting of the Black woman and mother by a sheriff's deputy in Illinois has reignited calls to #SayHerName.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Sonya Massey killing: family accuse police of attempted cover-up (The Guardian)

The family of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who was shot in the face and killed by a white sheriff's deputy in Illinois, have said police initially ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Forbes"

What To Know About Sonya Massey's Case: Harris Calls It A ... (Forbes)

Sean Grayson—the former deputy involved with the case—was fired and indicted last week of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Illinois Newsroom"

DOJ confirms it is 'assessing the circumstances' of Sonya Massey ... (Illinois Newsroom)

Sangamon County deputy who fired the fatal shot worked for 6 central Illinois departments.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The State Journal-Register"

Everything to know about Illinois bodycam laws after fatal Sonya ... (The State Journal-Register)

The fatal shooting of Sonya Massey has prompted questions regarding body camera usage, guidelines and more in Illinois.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "USA TODAY"

Daily Briefing: Justice for Sonya Massey (USA TODAY)

Feds to investigate the fatal shooting of a Black woman in her home. Here is the news to know Wednesday.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Daily Mail"

Sonya Massey's family accuse cops of trying to cover-up her killing ... (Daily Mail)

Sonya Massey's family believe that police officers attempted to cover up the officer involved shooting that led to her death.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "NBC News"

Deputy who killed Sonya Massey worked for 6 agencies in 4 years (NBC News)

The former sheriff's deputy charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey had been employed by six agencies since 2020, Illinois law enforcement ...

Post cover
Image courtesy of "TIME"

Records Show Deputy Charged in Sonya Massey's Fatal Shooting ... (TIME)

he former sheriff's deputy charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman killed inside her Illinois home, ...

Explore the last week