Illinois State Police releases footage of deputy fatally shooting woman

In a case that has drawn the attention of President Joe Biden, the Illinois State Police on Monday released disturbing body camera footage that showed a sheriff’s deputy fatally shooting a woman in the head in an exchange over a pot of water.

The footage shows the moments on July 6 when Sean Grayson, a Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy who was fired after the episode and is now charged with murder, shot the woman, Sonya Massey, 36, inside her home. Massey, who was Black, had called the police early that morning because she believed an intruder had entered her home in Springfield, Illinois, according to her lawyers.

Grayson, who is white, and another deputy, who has not been identified, arrived at Massey’s home and searched the front of the home and backyard, video shows. They then knocked on her door, and told her that they hadn’t found anyone outside.

The deputies followed Massey inside and asked her for identification while she sat on a sofa, footage shows. Massey then got up to remove a pot of hot water from the stove. As she was handling the pot, several feet away from the deputies, Massey said twice to the deputies, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

Grayson told Massey that she “better not,” using expletives.

“I swear to God,” he said, warning her that he would shoot her in the face.

Within seconds, Grayson drew his gun, ordered Massey to drop the pot, and fired at least two shots at her, the video shows.

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