Current:Home > My'Horrifying': Officials, lawmakers, Biden react to deputy shooting Sonya Massey -InfiniteWealth
'Horrifying': Officials, lawmakers, Biden react to deputy shooting Sonya Massey
View
Date:2025-04-12 11:32:53
Local officials, Illinois lawmakers and President Joe Biden have called the shooting of Sonya Massey "unthinkable, senseless" and "shocking, horrifying and heartbreaking" after video of the Black woman's deadly encounter with a white deputy was publicly released Monday afternoon.
The 36-minute bodycam footage shows the rapid escalation that led Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy Sean P. Grayson to shoot Massey, 36, inside her home in Springfield, Illinois.
Grayson and another deputy responded to Massey's house on July 6 after she called 911 to report a possible intruder. In the body camera video, Grayson can be heard yelling at Massey over moving a pot of boiling water from the stove to the sink. He then threatens to shoot her in the face and screams at her to drop the pot. The video shows Massey ducking before Grayson fires at her three times, including a fatal shot to the head.
Grayson, 30, of Riverton, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery and official misconduct. He remains in custody without bail.
The graphic video was released Monday on Illinois State Police's YouTube channel and has sparked national outrage. Local, state and federal officials have commented on the deadly encounter, which has sparked a number of protests, including one that drew about 200 people to the Springfield NAACP building Wednesday afternoon.
Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden "mourn with the rest of the country and our prayers are with Sonya’s family, loved ones, and community during this devastating time."
"Sonya’s family deserves justice," Biden added. "I am heartbroken for her children and her entire family as they face this unthinkable and senseless loss."
Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., said she was "shocked, horrified and heartbroken" by the footage and said the incident was "an act of senseless and unjustifiable violence − and it is an affront to our humanity."
Other Illinois lawmakers weighed in. State Sen. Doris Turner said that "nothing could prepare our community to see such a blatant disregard for human life" and urged people to come together "to seek justice and do all we can to prevent another Black man or woman from being unjustly killed."
State Sen. Steve McClure said that he was "shocked and horrified" by the footage and that even during his years as a prosecutor "I never saw anything like this."
"My heart goes out to Sonya and her family, who will remain in my thoughts and prayers," he said. "The Deputy who committed this murder is exactly where he belongs, in jail.“
Illinois State Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued a statement in response to the body camera footage, calling it "horrific."
"I offer my deepest sympathy to Sonya Massey’s family as they relive a moment no family should experience," Raoul said. "As the community reacts to the release of the footage, I urge calm as this matter works its way through the criminal justice system."
Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher said that "there is no excuse for this violent act" and thanked the state police and Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office "for swiftly investigating this event and taking the necessary actions to seek justice for Sonya."
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said, "the killing of Sonya Massey is inexcusable, disgraceful and an abhorrent disregard of basic humanity."
"Sonya's murder is a heartbreaking injustice to her, her loved ones and all who see themselves represented in her story. She was a mother, daughter and a human being whose memory will not be forgotten."
At Massey's funeral on Friday, days before the body camera footage was released, prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump said the video would "shock the conscience of America like the pictures of Emmett Till after he was lynched." The 1955 lynching of the 14-year-old in Mississippi helped galvanize the Civil Rights Movement.
Crump added that like the George Floyd video was a catalyst for the Black community in the 2020 presidential election, the Massey video is going to be "similarly impactful" on the 2024 election.
"It is that senseless, that unnecessary, that unjustifiable, that unconstitutional," Crump said. "This video is tragic in every sense."
Contributing: Thao Nguyen
veryGood! (24862)
Related
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Brie Garcia Shares Update on Sister Nikki Garcia Amid Artem Chigvintsev Divorce
- GOLDEN BLOCK SERVICES PTY LTD
- California bans all plastic shopping bags at store checkouts: When will it go into effect?
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- She exposed a welfare fraud scandal, now she risks going to jail | The Excerpt
- Feds bust Connecticut dealers accused of selling counterfeit pills throughout the US
- California becomes latest state to restrict student smartphone use at school
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- 3 Tufts men’s lacrosse players remain hospitalized with rare muscle injury
Ranking
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Texas man set to be executed for killing his infant son
- Man convicted of sending his son to rob and kill rapper PnB Rock gets 31 years to life
- 'Still suffering': Residents in Florida's new hurricane alley brace for Helene impact
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- Golden Block Services PTY LTD: English Courts recognizes virtual currency as property and the legal status of cryptocurrency is clear!
- Southeast US under major storm warning as hurricane watch issued for parts of Cuba and Mexico
- 'Boy Meets World' star Trina McGee suffers miscarriage after getting pregnant at age 54
Recommendation
Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
Former NL batting champion Charlie Blackmon retiring after 14 seasons with Rockies
Vince McMahon criticizes 'Mr. McMahon' Netflix docuseries, calls it 'deceptive'
Volunteers help seedlings take root as New Mexico attempts to recover from historic wildfire
Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
Alsobrooks presses the case for national abortion rights in critical Maryland Senate race
Charli XCX, Jameela Jamil chose to keep friends as roommates. It's not that weird.
Jennifer Lopez Sends Nikki Glaser Gift for Defending Her From Critics