00:00In early July, a heartbreaking and tragic event unfolded that has left a family in mourning and
00:06a community seeking justice. Sonja Massey, a loving mother, lost her life after calling 911
00:14in fear of an intruder in her home. James Wilburn, Sonja's father, spoke to CBS Mornings about the
00:21devastating loss and the difficult moments captured on body cam footage. It's probably
00:28the most horrible, heart-wrenching thing that we've ever seen in our lives, but if it were
00:32not for the body cam footage, we would not have known that this occurred. Initially, the family
00:38believed that Sonja was killed by an intruder, misled to think she had died from self-inflicted
00:44wounds. The truth was far more shocking. The footage, released by Illinois State Police,
00:50shows deputies arriving at Sonja's home. They searched the area before entering and speaking
00:56with her. Moments later, the situation took a tragic turn. Sonja, holding a pot of hot water,
01:03told the deputies, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus. Deputy Grayson responded aggressively,
01:09and within seconds, he drew his gun and fatally shot Sonja. Sonja left behind a 17-year-old son
01:17and a 15-year-old daughter. Her father, James, shared the family's struggle to cope with the
01:23loss. They're having a very hard time. They're doing as best they can. In response to the incident,
01:29President Joe Biden condemned the killing and praised the swift actions taken to charge Deputy
01:36Grayson with murder. Sonja's death at the hands of a responding officer reminds us that all too
01:42often Black Americans face fears for their safety in ways many of the rest of us do not. The Massey
01:48family's lawyer, Ben Crump, described the incident as heinous and called for justice. Until we get
01:55justice for Sonja Massey, we rebuke this discriminatory justice system in the name of
01:59Jesus. Deputy Grayson has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a
02:06firearm, and official misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty and is currently being held without
02:12bond. As the Massey family continues to grieve and seek justice, this tragic event serves as
02:19a stark reminder of the need for accountability and reform in our justice system.
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