Sonya Massey: Bodycam footage shows fatal police shooting

Illinois police have released bodycam footage showing the chaotic moments that led to the fatal shooting of a woman who had called 911 to report a suspected intruder in her home.

The killing of 36-year-old Sonya Massey over Independence Day weekend led to charges against one of the police officers called to her home and was condemned by President Joe Biden.

Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson has been fired from the police force and charged with murder and abuse of office.

He has pleaded not guilty.

On Monday, the Illinois State Police released bodycam footage showing officers yelling at Ms Massey to put down a pot of boiling water while pointing their guns at her.

The incident occurred in the early hours of July 6, when Ms. Massey called police to her home in Springfield, 200 miles south of Chicago, to report that she believed someone had broken into her house.

When Ms. Massey entered her home, officers followed her into the house and observed her searching for her identification.

Mr. Grayson saw a pot on the stove, pointed to it and said, “We don’t need a fire here.”

Mrs Massey went to the stove to remove the pot. She and Mr Grayson appeared to laugh at her pot of “steaming hot water” before she said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

“You’d better not do that or I swear to God I’ll shoot you in the face,” said Mr. Grayson. Then he drew his gun and yelled at her to drop the pot.

“OK, I’m sorry,” Ms Massey is heard saying before ducking and raising her hands.

“What else are we going to do? I’m not putting hot (expletive) boiling water in my (expletive) face,” he said after shooting her.

On Monday, the Sangamon County District Attorney’s Office said Mr. Grayson’s use of force against Ms. Massey was unjustified.

In a statement, President Biden said his heart breaks for her family.

“Sonya Massey, a beloved mother, friend, daughter and young black woman, should be alive today,” he said.

“Sonya’s death at the hands of a police officer reminds us that African Americans too often fear for their safety in a way that many of us do not.”

Lawyers for Ms Massey’s family praised prosecutors for their swift action against Mr Grayson.

Attorney Benjamin Crump said the footage would “shock the conscience of America.”

“So senseless, so unnecessary, so unjustified and so unconstitutional,” he said.