Sonya Massey, a Black lady who was fatally shot within the face by an Illinois sheriff’s deputy after she referred to as 911 for help, had reached out to emergency providers no less than twice within the days main as much as her demise on July 6, in keeping with newly launched information.
One of many calls got here from her mom, Donna Massey, who expressed concern to the dispatcher, saying, “I do not need you guys to harm her,” and defined that her daughter feared the police.She particularly requested that no officer who could be “prejudiced” be despatched, reported AP.
The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Division is at present investigating whether or not the deputies who responded to the decision a few suspected prowler at Massey’s dwelling have been conscious of her psychological well being historical past. Physique-worn digicam footage launched final week means that this data was not communicated to the officers. Within the video, former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, who shot Massey, is heard asking dispatch two minutes after the taking pictures if there was any document of earlier calls indicating she had psychological well being points.
Jeff Wilhite, spokesperson for Sheriff Jack Campbell, talked about that whereas such data is handed alongside if recognized, there isn’t any computerized mechanism to make sure it’s relayed. “The dispatcher must know ‘sure, it is the identical particular person’ and ‘sure, it is the identical handle,'” Wilhite defined.
One other 911 name from July 4, launched in response to public information requests, concerned an unnamed caller reporting that somebody was making an attempt to hurt them, solely to disconnect after stating, “This should not be the correct quantity.” Officers are uncertain if Massey made this name.
Grayson, 30, has been charged with first-degree homicide, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct for the taking pictures demise of 36-year-old Massey. He has pleaded not responsible and is being held with out bond.
The body-cam footage reveals that after Grayson and one other deputy arrived at Massey’s dwelling simply earlier than 1 a.m. on July 6, she appeared confused, repeatedly asking, “Please God” and “Don’t harm me.” Inside her dwelling, she struggled to seek out her ID and requested for her Bible. When she immediately mentioned, “I rebuke you within the title of Jesus,” whereas holding a pot of water, Grayson drew his gun and fired three pictures, considered one of which struck her beneath the left eye.
Massey’s household has acknowledged that she had a historical past of psychological well being struggles and had lately sought therapy. Her 17-year-old son, Malachi Hill Massey, shared that his mom had checked right into a 30-day inpatient therapy program within the St. Louis space firstly of July, solely to return two days later.
On July 4, at 9:27 p.m., a 911 caller from Massey’s handle reported that “anyone’s making an attempt to harm me.” When pressed for extra data, the caller mentioned, “By no means thoughts,” and disconnected. Later that morning, Donna Massey referred to as 911, describing her daughter’s paranoid conduct and emphasizing that she was not harmful however had grow to be more and more fearful and distressed.
Springfield police responded to the decision and located that Massey didn’t need to communicate to medical professionals however was checked by emergency medical technicians. Massey herself later referred to as to report a neighbor hitting her with a brick, main a sheriff’s deputy to satisfy her at a hospital. The deputy famous that she seemed to be experiencing psychological well being points and was searching for therapy for minor accidents. Massey talked about she had lately been launched from a psychological well being facility and claimed police had tried to run her off the street earlier that day.
Twelve hours after this incident, Grayson and one other deputy responded to the July 6 name, the place body-cam footage reveals them noticing the damaged home windows on Massey’s SUV. Grayson questioned her in regards to the car, and when she denied proudly owning it, he requested if she was “doing all proper mentally,” to which she replied, “Sure, I took my medication.”
Minutes later, after the taking pictures, Grayson radioed in to ask if there was any name historical past indicating Massey had psychological well being points. The response isn’t heard, however Grayson is later heard saying, “That might clarify lots.”
One of many calls got here from her mom, Donna Massey, who expressed concern to the dispatcher, saying, “I do not need you guys to harm her,” and defined that her daughter feared the police.She particularly requested that no officer who could be “prejudiced” be despatched, reported AP.
The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Division is at present investigating whether or not the deputies who responded to the decision a few suspected prowler at Massey’s dwelling have been conscious of her psychological well being historical past. Physique-worn digicam footage launched final week means that this data was not communicated to the officers. Within the video, former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, who shot Massey, is heard asking dispatch two minutes after the taking pictures if there was any document of earlier calls indicating she had psychological well being points.
Jeff Wilhite, spokesperson for Sheriff Jack Campbell, talked about that whereas such data is handed alongside if recognized, there isn’t any computerized mechanism to make sure it’s relayed. “The dispatcher must know ‘sure, it is the identical particular person’ and ‘sure, it is the identical handle,'” Wilhite defined.
One other 911 name from July 4, launched in response to public information requests, concerned an unnamed caller reporting that somebody was making an attempt to hurt them, solely to disconnect after stating, “This should not be the correct quantity.” Officers are uncertain if Massey made this name.
Grayson, 30, has been charged with first-degree homicide, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct for the taking pictures demise of 36-year-old Massey. He has pleaded not responsible and is being held with out bond.
The body-cam footage reveals that after Grayson and one other deputy arrived at Massey’s dwelling simply earlier than 1 a.m. on July 6, she appeared confused, repeatedly asking, “Please God” and “Don’t harm me.” Inside her dwelling, she struggled to seek out her ID and requested for her Bible. When she immediately mentioned, “I rebuke you within the title of Jesus,” whereas holding a pot of water, Grayson drew his gun and fired three pictures, considered one of which struck her beneath the left eye.
Massey’s household has acknowledged that she had a historical past of psychological well being struggles and had lately sought therapy. Her 17-year-old son, Malachi Hill Massey, shared that his mom had checked right into a 30-day inpatient therapy program within the St. Louis space firstly of July, solely to return two days later.
On July 4, at 9:27 p.m., a 911 caller from Massey’s handle reported that “anyone’s making an attempt to harm me.” When pressed for extra data, the caller mentioned, “By no means thoughts,” and disconnected. Later that morning, Donna Massey referred to as 911, describing her daughter’s paranoid conduct and emphasizing that she was not harmful however had grow to be more and more fearful and distressed.
Springfield police responded to the decision and located that Massey didn’t need to communicate to medical professionals however was checked by emergency medical technicians. Massey herself later referred to as to report a neighbor hitting her with a brick, main a sheriff’s deputy to satisfy her at a hospital. The deputy famous that she seemed to be experiencing psychological well being points and was searching for therapy for minor accidents. Massey talked about she had lately been launched from a psychological well being facility and claimed police had tried to run her off the street earlier that day.
Twelve hours after this incident, Grayson and one other deputy responded to the July 6 name, the place body-cam footage reveals them noticing the damaged home windows on Massey’s SUV. Grayson questioned her in regards to the car, and when she denied proudly owning it, he requested if she was “doing all proper mentally,” to which she replied, “Sure, I took my medication.”
Minutes later, after the taking pictures, Grayson radioed in to ask if there was any name historical past indicating Massey had psychological well being points. The response isn’t heard, however Grayson is later heard saying, “That might clarify lots.”
