IL - Sonya Massey Shot To Death In Her Own Home by Sangamon County Deputy After Calling to Report a Prowler, Springfield 6 July 2024

[sds71]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The deputy sheriff who fatally shot Sonya Massey in her Illinois home last month said he believed that when the Black woman who called 911 for help unexpectedly said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” that she intended deadly harm, according to the deputy’s field report released Monday.

“I interpreted this to mean she was going to kill me,” Grayson wrote, adding that when he drew his pistol and Massey ducked behind a counter that separated them, he moved around the obstacle fearing that she was going to grab a weapon

By the time he completed the field report July 9, Grayson had been placed on administrative leave. The document indicates he received department permission to review the body camera video, the bulk of which had been recorded on the other deputy’s camera. Grayson said he thought his was on when the two first met Massey at the door, but he didn’t turn it on until just after the shooting.

Deputy who shot Sonya Massey thought her rebuke 'in the name of Jesus' indicated intent to kill him

The deputy sheriff who fatally shot Sonya Massey in her Illinois home last month says he thought that when she unexpectedly said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” she intended to kill him.

apnews.com

 

[PrairieWind]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The deputy sheriff who fatally shot Sonya Massey in her Illinois home last month said he believed that when the Black woman who called 911 for help unexpectedly said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” that she intended deadly harm, according to the deputy’s field report released Monday.

“I interpreted this to mean she was going to kill me,” Grayson wrote, adding that when he drew his pistol and Massey ducked behind a counter that separated them, he moved around the obstacle fearing that she was going to grab a weapon

By the time he completed the field report July 9, Grayson had been placed on administrative leave. The document indicates he received department permission to review the body camera video, the bulk of which had been recorded on the other deputy’s camera. Grayson said he thought his was on when the two first met Massey at the door, but he didn’t turn it on until just after the shooting.

Deputy who shot Sonya Massey thought her rebuke 'in the name of Jesus' indicated intent to kill him

The deputy sheriff who fatally shot Sonya Massey in her Illinois home last month says he thought that when she unexpectedly said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” she intended to kill him.

apnews.com

I have watched and rewatched that video and see nothing in her comment or demeanor that would make me think she intended any kind of violence let alone deadly violence.

 

[Mack the Knife]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The deputy sheriff who fatally shot Sonya Massey in her Illinois home last month said he believed that when the Black woman who called 911 for help unexpectedly said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” that she intended deadly harm, according to the deputy’s field report released Monday.

“I interpreted this to mean she was going to kill me,” Grayson wrote, adding that when he drew his pistol and Massey ducked behind a counter that separated them, he moved around the obstacle fearing that she was going to grab a weapon

By the time he completed the field report July 9, Grayson had been placed on administrative leave. The document indicates he received department permission to review the body camera video, the bulk of which had been recorded on the other deputy’s camera. Grayson said he thought his was on when the two first met Massey at the door, but he didn’t turn it on until just after the shooting.

Deputy who shot Sonya Massey thought her rebuke 'in the name of Jesus' indicated intent to kill him

The deputy sheriff who fatally shot Sonya Massey in her Illinois home last month says he thought that when she unexpectedly said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” she intended to kill him.

apnews.com

Might just be because I’m not a LEO, but if I’m ~5ft and a kitchen counter away from someone who I think is going to kill me with a pot of water, my move is going to be to back up and ask what she means or just outright leave, not tell her he was going to blow her [expletive] head off and then point his gun at her.

I wonder if he thinks that the belief he put in his field report sounded reasonable. I wonder if, in a slightly different situation, the sheriff’s department would have found it reasonable. I find that law enforcement often states an interest in de-escalation, but in practice will justify and support significant escalation from individual officers.