The Illinois sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed Sonya Massey claimed he thought he was in danger during the fatal encounter, according to a deputy’s field report released on Monday, Aug. 5.
Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office deputy, was charged with first-degree murder after he shot Massey, who was unarmed and had called 911 on July 6, fearing there was an intruder in her home.
The entire incident was captured on a body camera. Right before she was shot, Massey had gotten up to remove a pot of hot water from the stove and said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
According to Grayson’s field report, reviewed, the former deputy believed Massey’s words were a threat.
“I interpreted this to mean she was going to kill me,” Grayson wrote. “I drew my weapon and pointed it at Sonya.”
Grayson wrote that he felt “imminent fear” that Massey was going to throw the pot of boiling liquid at him when he fired the shot.
In the body-camera footage, reviewed by PEOPLE, it is not clear if Massey did intend to throw the pot at Grayson or his partner. When the shot was fired, Massey is not seen on camera.
Grayson, who was hired in May 2023, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct on July 17 and has since pleaded not guilty. He was fired by the sheriff’s office in the aftermath of the shooting.
After Massey’s death, President Joe Biden saidshe “should be alive today,” and that he was “heartbroken.”
“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,” Biden added.
Massey’s family has since hired prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump.
Raymond Massey, Sonya’s uncle, spoke to PEOPLE and said his niece was a “loving and caring” mother of two teenage children.
“It’s burning so deep,” Massey said. “Every family member is going through that right now. But the kids, you have to say that’s twofold.”
