Body-cam footage from the death of Sonya Massey has been released to the public, showing Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson firing three shots at her head. The tragic incident occurred at her home, where she called police about a possible break-in. While Grayson and his partner didn’t find any signs of an intruder, they spoke with Massey for a time. During that conversation, the disgraced officer noticed a pot of boiling water on the stove. He moved away and asked her to remove it. “Where you going?” she asked in response. Grayson answered: “Away from your hot steaming water.”
Here, Massey remarks: “Away from the hot steaming water? Oh, I’ll rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson then threatens to “f*cking shoot you right in your f*cking face.” Despite Massey apologizing several times, Grayson then shoots her in the head. He has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct, and is being held without bond. It is extremely rare for police officers to be charged with murder with the last time coming in 2020 following the death of George Floyd. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing the family of Massey.
Kamala Harris Speaks After Joe Biden’s Decision To Drop Out
US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during an event honoring National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship teams from the 2023-2024 season, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on July 22, 2024. Joe Biden on July 21, 2024, dropped out of the US presidential election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s new nominee, in a stunning move that upends an already extraordinary 2024 race for the White House. Biden, 81, said he was acting in the “best interest of my party and the country” by bowing to weeks of pressure after a disastrous June debate against Donald Trump stoked worries about his age and mental fitness. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Shortly after authorities released the body-cam footage, President Joe Biden released the following statement: “Sonya Massey, a beloved mother, friend, daughter, and young Black woman, should be alive today. Sonya called the police because she was concerned about a potential intruder. When we call for help, all of us as Americans – regardless of who we are or where we live – should be able to do so without fearing for our lives. Sonya’s death at the hands of a responding officer reminds us that all too often Black Americans face fears for their safety in ways many of the rest of us do not.”
Joe Biden Speaks Out
His statement comes after his decision to drop out of the upcoming presidential race and endorse Kamala Harris to run in his stead. Be on the lookout for further updates on Sonya Massey and the 2024 Presidential Election on HotNewHipHop.
About The Author
Cole Blake is currently an Editor at HotNewHipHop based out of Brooklyn, New York. He began working at the site as an intern back in 2018 while studying journalism at St. John’s University. In the time since, he’s graduated with a bachelor’s degree and written extensively about a wide range of topics including pop culture, film & television, politics, video games, sports, and much more. He’s also covered music festivals such as Gov. Ball and Rolling Loud. You can find him publishing work for HNHH from Monday to Wednesday or on weekends.
On the sports front, Cole’s a passionate NBA and NFL fan with his favorite teams being the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Lakers. He also roots for the Yankees whenever he finds himself at Yankee Stadium or the Red Storm when in the company of other SJU alumni.
His favorite hip-hop artists are billy woods, Earl Sweatshirt, Cam’ron, MIKE, and Mach-Hommy.
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