Photo credits: CNN
Author’s note:
In 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement swept the world by storm. Information about the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor was ubiquitous across all news outlets, social media platforms, and even everyday conversations. Four years later, it has been made clear that the horrors of police brutality and racially motivated violence have not ended. Sonya Massey, a thirty-six-year-old black woman, was shot and killed inside her own home by a police sheriff after she called 911 for help. Even after the months of protest that ensued throughout 2020, it is clear that racism is still the root of many cases of unjustified violence. Therefore, the Black Lives Matter movement must not be forgotten—it should be continued, whether it be through large actions such as organized protests or small shows of respect including spreading awareness on the internet to family and friends. By actively fighting against the prevalent issue of racism in the United States, we as a society can decrease the number of similar unjust murders in the future.
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The woman sighed in relief when her front door swung open and two police officers stepped inside her home. Her heart had been pounding at the thought of a prowler outside her house, watching her and her children like a hawk. But safety had arrived, she told herself. No need to worry anymore.
Her once-heavy breathing stabilized as the officers searched her home and reported back no prowlers. Still, she felt something lingering, a gut feeling that quickened her heartbeat once more.
One of the officers asked her to remove a pot of hot water that she had been boiling from the stove to avoid a potential fire. Raising it, she said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus!”
The same officer turned pale and raised a firearm. Fingers shaking, eyes twitching, and nerves going haywire, she lowered the pot and began to apologize profusely. She expected them to accept her apology—they were police, after all, who protected herself and her fellow citizens.
She knew she was mistaken when she heard the first gunshot go off, and her eyes widened before the bullet pierced her head and all thought was lost.
Sonya Massey, a thirty-six-year-old black woman, likely expected nothing less than the above scenario when she called the police out of fear of a prowler lurking around her home. The previous day, her mother had told a 911 dispatcher that Massey was having a mental breakdown. According to Massey’s daughter, she had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia but was managing the condition with medication. These mental health issues may have influenced her into believing that a banging noise that she heard outside was a prowler, leading her to call the police a few minutes after midnight.
She reportedly stated she was “hearing stuff” and asked the police to “come and see” what was happening. Court records state that they found her to be “calm” and “not aggressive,” albeit “perhaps unwell.”
The officers who answered the call were Deputy Sean Grayson and his partner, whose name has not been released to the public. While Grayson’s partner searched the house, finding nothing suspicious or dangerous, Grayson noticed a pot of hot water on the stove and asked Massey to turn the stove off, explaining, “We don’t need a fire while we’re here.”
As she picked up the pot, however, Grayson and his partner retreated. When Massey asked where they were going, Grayson replied they were going away from her steaming hot water. Seemingly confused at this point, Massey asked, “Away from the hot, steaming water? I’ll rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
In response, Grayson drew his gun and began to shout that he would shoot her in the face, as recorded by bodycam footage. She ducked and apologized while lifting the pot. Then, Grayson shot three bullets in her face, effectively killing her. When his partner said that he would get the first-aid kit from their car, Grayson stopped him, stating that there was nothing they could do as it had been a fatal headshot.
In his field case report, Grayson wrote that he had feared for his life, stating, “I was in imminent fear of getting boiling liquid to my face or chest, which would have caused great bodily harm or death. [...] Due to being in fear of our safety and life, I fired my duty weapon.”
He also commented on Massey’s mental state, writing that “it seemed as if Sonya’s mind was all over the place and not able to focus or have a conversation. Sonya stated she was doing OK and had taken her medicine.”
In his retelling of the events that transpired, he explained, “I advised Sonya to put the boiling liquid down. Sonya stated she was going to rebuke me in the name of Jesus. She stated this twice I interpreted this to mean she was going to kill me.”
His explanations did not stop him from being fired from his position as Deputy. Besides the murder, he also violated the department’s policy and procedures when he discouraged his partner from providing medical aid to Massey, saying, “Nah, headshot dude; she’s done” and “let her just, there’s nothing we can do.”
Massey’s unjust death prompted protests across the United States, evoking criticism of how police respond to Black communities and those experiencing mental health issues. Activists have stated that they were tired of repeating the same message over and over as they demanded justice for those who lost their lives to police brutality, referencing the events of the Black Lives Matter movement that occurred four years ago.
Grayson is facing charges, yet there is no guarantee that similar events will not continue to happen. To diminish the possibility of such unjust deaths, I believe that we must repeat the names of those who unfairly lost their lives, spread awareness of these issues to others, and remain vigilant in our fight against racially motivated police brutality. The fight for justice has not ended, and we cannot stop now.
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Jurisview Journal is a student-led blog that publishes biweekly articles about interesting criminal cases. Our aim is to shed light on cases that require justice or further exploration and provide input on controversial legal events. We also publish infographics to help victims or those who wish to educate themselves on legal issues.
Work Cited
Bellware, Kim, and Justine McDaniel. “Deputy charged in killing unarmed Sonya Massey claimed to fear for his life.” 6 August 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/08/06/sonya-massey-killing-deputy/.
Kawash, Maher, and Rob Hughes. “Families of police brutality victims attend rally for Sonya Massey at Chicago police headquarters.” ABC7 Chicago, 7 August 2024, https://abc7chicago.com/post/sonya-massey-shooting-police-brutality-victims-families-attend-rally-slain-springfield-woman-chicago-police-headquarters/15141530/.
Levenson, Eric, et al. “Illinois police release bodycam video of fatal shooting of Black woman in her home.” 23 July 2024, https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/22/us/sonya-massey-police-shooting/index.html.
Merchan, Davi, and Sabina Ghebremedhin. “Ex-deputy charged in Sonya Massey killing says he feared for his life, new docs show.” ABC News, 7 August 2024, https://abcnews.go.com/US/deputy-charged-sonya-massey-killing-feared-life-new/story?id=112604944.
Rohrlich, Justin. “Everything we know about the Sonya Massey shooting.” 25 July 2024, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/sonia-massey-police-shooting-mental-illness-b2585416.html.
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