By Edrea Davis – Police have released bodycam footage of a tragic incident involving Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, who was fatally shot in the head by a white sheriff’s deputy after she called the police to investigate an intruder in her home. The footage captures the moment the deputy, in a shocking display of aggression, yelled, “I’ll shoot you in your f***ing face,” before shooting Massey in the face, resulting in her death.
The incident unfolded after Massey had called 911 to report a prowler. When the responding officer, Deputy Sean Grayson, arrived, the bodycam footage shows his aggressive demeanor from the moment Massey answered the door. Inside the house, Grayson’s behavior escalated further. At one point, he ordered Massey to check a pot of boiling water on the stove. When she picked up the pot, Grayson perceived it as a threat and yelled for her to get down before fatally shooting her.
In the wake of the shooting, police attempted to cover up the circumstances surrounding Massey’s death. At a press conference on Tuesday, Massey’s family revealed that authorities initially misled them, claiming that Massey had either taken her own life or been killed by an intruder. Audio obtained by the Guardian exposes a police dispatcher reporting that Massey’s fatal wound was “self-inflicted,” contradicting the evidence seen in the bodycam footage.
Records show that Deputy Sean Grayson, who has since been fired and charged with murder in the fatal shooting, had a troubling history. Grayson had worked for six different agencies since 2020 and had been arrested twice for DUIs.
“This is a clear case of police misconduct and a grave miscarriage of justice,” said a family spokesperson. “Sonya called for help and instead faced aggression and lethal force. We demand transparency and justice for Sonya.”
The release of the footage has brought to light the alarming behavior of the deputy and the subsequent attempts to distort the truth. Massey’s family and community activists are calling for a thorough investigation and accountability for the deputy involved.
The footage has intensified scrutiny on police practices and the treatment of Black individuals by law enforcement. Advocacy groups are urging for systemic changes to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future and to ensure that officers who misuse their power are held accountable.
As the investigation unfolds, Massey’s family continues to mourn the loss of a beloved mother, daughter, sister, and friend, seeking answers and justice for the senseless violence that took her life.