Illinois State Police release body camera footage showing woman killed by former sheriff’s deputy

Police body camera footage showing the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, an unarmed black woman who was shot in her own home by a deputy after she called 911 to report a possible intruder, was released by Illinois State Police Monday afternoon.

The video, seen by ABC News, shows Massey, 36, being shot in the face by former Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson. Grayson, 30, who is white, has since been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct, to which he has pleaded not guilty. He has been fired from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office.

According to charging documents filed in Sangamon County Court, Grayson allegedly shot Massey in the face after the deputy “aggressively yelled” at her to put down a pot of boiling water and threw it onto a couch.

The video shows Massey pouring a pot of boiling water into the sink after Grayson showed him the pot on his stove. Massey asked him where he was going, and Grayson replied, “away from your boiling water.”

“Oh, you’re going away from my boiling water? Oh, I rebuke you in Jesus’ name,” Massey said.

Grayson replied, “You better [expletive] No, I swear [expletive] My God, I’m going to shoot you in the head. [expletive] “face,” and immediately drew his weapon.

Massey covered her face with the pot as she bent down and apologized. Grayson told her to “drop the pot.” [expletive] “pot” three times before shooting him.

Grayson and a second deputy, whose name has not yet been released, were dispatched to Massey’s home in Springfield, Illinois, around 12:50 a.m. on July 6 to investigate a possible prowler, according to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office.

Grayson did not activate his body camera until after the shooting. The other deputy activated his camera when he arrived on the scene, according to charging documents filed against Grayson in Sangamon County Court.

Court documents describe Massey as “calm, possibly ill, not aggressive” at the time officers responded to her call for help. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family, told ABC News that Massey has mental health issues.

Crump described the body camera footage of Massey’s death as “extremely graphic.” He will join the family in addressing the media Monday afternoon at a news conference, where mental health professionals will be on hand to counsel participants due to the graphic nature of the video.

Prosecutors say Grayson discouraged his partner from retrieving a medical kit to help Massey after the shooting because he believed her injuries were too severe to resuscitate.

In the video, Grayson tells the second deputy she’s “done” when he announces he’s going to retrieve his medical kit immediately after Massey is shot.

“No, a headshot, man. She’s done. You can go get him, but it’s a headshot,” Grayson said. “What else do we do? I don’t bring boiling water to the [expletive] face and it has already reached us.”

The second deputy who responded still rendered aid to Massey. According to a statement from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, “Deputies immediately administered first aid until paramedics arrived. The woman was transported to St. John’s Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased. No deputies were injured during the incident.”

Massey was pronounced dead at 1:47 a.m. on July 6. An autopsy revealed she died of a gunshot wound, according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon.

Illinois State Police investigated the shooting for use of deadly force at the request of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. According to Sangamon County Prosecutor John Milhiser, a review of the investigation and body camera footage found that Grayson was not justified in his use of deadly force.

Massey was honored at a funeral on Friday, July 19. During the funeral, her younger sister, Breeanna Toles, asked the audience to keep her family’s feelings in mind as they watch the body camera footage of her sister’s shooting.

“I know people want to see the video, I know people want to talk about the video; I’m just asking if you do it, just do it out of respect for us,” Toles said.

President Joe Biden released a statement on Massey’s death.

“Sonya’s death at the hands of a responding police officer reminds us that too often, Black Americans fear for their safety in ways that many of us do not,” Biden said in his statement. “Sonya’s family deserves justice. I am heartbroken for her children and her entire family who are dealing with this unthinkable and senseless loss. Jill and I grieve with the rest of the country, and our prayers are with Sonya’s family, loved ones, and community during this devastating time.”

Grayson’s attorney, Dan Fultz, declined to comment.

ABC News’ Abby Cruz and Davi Merchan contributed to this report.