Above photo: Demonstrators hold vigil in honor of Sonya Massey in Brooklyn, New York.
Massey’s police killing was caught on a video which circulated on social media.
It depicts the impunity of US police in wielding violence.
On July 6, 36-year-old Black woman Sonya Massey was shot and killed by white police officer Sean Grayson after inviting the police into her own home, seeking protection from a potential intruder. On July 22, body camera footage was released to the public of Massey’s killing, shocking the nation and harkening to previous examples of police violence against Black people.
The body camera footage that has emerged has shed light on a particularly disgusting case of police impunity. As a result, protests have erupted over the past few weeks across the country, including in major cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. In Springfield, Illinois, where Massey was killed, her family members mobilized the community in a mass action, converting Massey’s last words to officer Grayson into a chant: “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus!”
In the released body camera footage, two officers berate Massey within her own home, ordering her to retrieve her identification despite her not being a suspect in any crime. In fact, it was her who called the police and invited them into her own home because she feared for her safety. While in Massey’s home, police officers also ordered her to check on the boiling water on her stove, saying that they “don’t need a fire while we’re here.” While Massey was doing as she was ordered and checking on the boiling water, Grayson appears to become agitated, stating that he is moving away “away from your hot steaming water.”
As officers become agitated, Massey states that “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson replies, “You better fucking not, I swear to God I’ll fucking shoot you right in your fucking face,” and subsequently does just that, shooting three times at Massey’s head, killing her.
Grayson’s behavior after fatally shooting Massey displays a remarkable level of callousness towards human life. After confirming that he did in fact kill her, he dismissively states, “I’m not even gonna waste my med stuff,” on Massey. When asked by his fellow officers how he is doing, he states, “Yeah, I’m good, this f**king b*tch is crazy,” referring to the woman he had just murdered.
Some have commented that even Grayson’s fellow officers appear disgusted in the video. But the police were prepared to provide as much cover for Grayson as possible before the footage was released, with an officer telling police dispatch that Massey’s wounds were “self-inflicted,” and a police summary after the killing erroneously claiming that Massey threw steaming water at the kitchen cabinets. Massey’s family claims that police initially told them that Massey had died by suicide, or had been killed by a neighbor.