Body camera footage was released showing the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey by former Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson. Massey had called police because she was afraid of a prowler and was shot in the face by Grayson. He has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder and other offenses. The footage shows Grayson and another deputy interacting with Massey at her home, where she was holding a pot that she eventually dropped before being shot. Grayson did not attempt to de-escalate the situation and was found to have acted recklessly by advancing towards Massey. The shooting was determined to be unjustified by a state police use-of-force review. Grayson was fired by the county sheriff and is no longer in law enforcement. President Biden has commented on the incident, expressing condolences to Massey’s family and recognizing the need for accountability. Attorney Ben Crump, representing Massey’s family, raised questions about whether race played a role in the shooting and called for equal justice. Grayson is currently held without bond, and the pursuit of justice in Massey’s case continues. The family is seeking the same outcome as they believe would occur if the victim were white.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com