Kamala Harris on Friday called the family of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who was fatally shot by a sheriff’s deputy in her Illinois home, according to Massey’s family members, who spoke to NBC News.
Massey was killed on 6 July after she called the Sangamon county sheriff’s office because she was afraid there might be a prowler outside, according to an attorney for her family and Illinois state police.
Autopsy findings also released on Friday confirmed Massey died from a gunshot wound to the head. The report was released shortly before Ben Crump, the civil rights attorney, who is representing Massey’s family, denounced the killing by ex-sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson as senseless, unnecessary and excessive.
The vice-president’s call “made me feel a lot better today”, James Wilburn, Massey’s father, told NBC News. Harris’s office confirmed the communication.
Wilburn added that Harris “gave us her heartfelt condolences, and she let us know that she is with us 100%, that this senseless killing must stop”.
Body-camera video released Monday showed Grayson and his partner speaking with Massey outside her home, then going inside where the situation appeared to escalate when Massey moved a pot of water off her stove at their request.
Grayson cursed at Massey, telling her: “You better fucking not. I swear to God, I will fucking shoot you right in your fucking face.” Both deputies screamed at Massey to drop the pot before Grayson opened fire, shooting Massey three times.
Grayson has been fired and indicted on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty.
Harris, the presumptive 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, issued a statement on Tuesday honoring Massey and pledging “we have much work to do to ensure that our justice system fully lives up to its name” following the release of the body-camera footage.
“Sonya Massey deserved to be safe,” Harris said. “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.”
Joe Biden issued a statement saying Massey’s family deserves justice and reiterating his call for Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a major police reform bill named after the Minnesota man whose killing by a police officer in 2020 set off nationwide protests.
The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the shooting of Massey.
