Vice President Harris on Tuesday condemned the police killing of Sonya Massey, who was shot in the face by an officer earlier this month after she called 911 for help.
“Sonya Massey deserved to be safe. After she called the police for help, she was tragically killed in her own home at the hands of a responding officer sworn to protect and serve. Doug and I send strength and prayers to Sonya’s family and friends, and we join them in grieving her senseless death,” Harris said in a statement, referring to second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Body camera video released by Illinois State Police showed Sean Grayson, a Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy who has since been fired, shooting Massey, a 38-year-old Black woman, three times inside her home in Springfield, Ill.
Grayson, who is white, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct, The Associated Press reported.
The video appears to show a tense moment in Massey’s home over a pot of hot water. At one point, Massey said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” which prompted Grayson to shout at her.
Grayson yelled at Massey to put down a pot of hot water and threatened to shoot her. Massey apologized, ducked and rose for a moment before Grayson fired his weapon at her. Prosecutors said Grayson discouraged the other deputy from getting his medical kit, according to the AP.
Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee after President Biden bowed out of the race on Sunday, also called on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
“Our thoughts are also with the communities across our nation whose calls for help are often met with suspicion, distrust, and even violence. The disturbing footage released yesterday confirms what we know from the lived experiences of so many — we have much work to do to ensure that our justice system fully lives up to its name,” she said.
“I join President Biden in commending the swift action of the State’s Attorney’s Office and in calling on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a bill that I coauthored in the Senate. In this moment, in honor of Sonya’s memory and the memory of so many more whose names we may never know, we must come together to achieve meaningful reforms that advance the safety of all communities,” she continued.
Biden also issued a statement about Massey’s death Monday, saying her family “deserves justice.”
“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,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed.