Illinois State Police have released body camera footage showing the chaotic moments when a woman who called 911 to report a suspected intruder in her home was fatally shot.
The killing of 36-year-old Sonya Massey over the Independence Day weekend resulted in criminal charges against a police officer who went to her home and drew condemnation from President Joe Biden.
Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson has been fired from the police force and charged with murder and official misconduct.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. As of Monday, he remained jailed without bail.
On Monday, Illinois State Police released body camera video showing officers pointing handguns at Ms. Massey and yelling at her to put down a kettle of boiling water.
The incident occurred in the early hours of July 6 when Ms. Macy called police to her home in Springfield, 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of Chicago, saying she believed someone had broken into her home.
When Ms. Massey entered her home, officers followed her inside and watched her looking for her identification.
In the video, Mr Grayson sees a pot on the stove, points to it and says: “We don’t need a fire here”.
Ms. Macy walked over to the stove and put the pot away. She and Mr Grayson appeared to laugh over her “kettle of steaming hot water” before she twice said: “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
“You had better [expletive] No, otherwise I swear to God I would [expletive] shoot you [expletive] Mr Grayson said.
“Well, I’m sorry,” Ms. Macy said before ducking away.
After shooting her, the officer said: “What else can we do? I’m not going to be angry.” [expletive] boil water to [expletive] Face.
The film also records Mr Grayson telling his police partner that she did not need medical help.
When another officer tried to get the medical kit, the officer said, “She’s done. You can go get it, but it was a head shot.”
After another officer said they could at least try to stop Ms Massey’s bleeding, Mr Grayson then left to get his own medical kit.
On Monday, the Sangamon County Prosecutor’s Office said Grayson’s use of force against Ms. Massey was unjustified.
President Biden said in a statement that he was “heartbroken” for her family.
“Sonia Massey, a beloved mother, friend, daughter and young black woman, should be alive today,” he said.
“Sonia’s death at the hands of a police officer reminds us that Black Americans often face concerns about their safety that the rest of us don’t have.”
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul called the shooting “horrible” in a statement Monday.
Mr Raoult said: “As the community reacts to the release of the video, I urge everyone to remain calm as the matter is processed through the criminal justice system.”
Lawyers for Ms. Massey’s family praised prosecutors for taking swift action against Mr. Grayson.
Attorney Benjamin Crump said the video “will shock the American conscience.”
“This is senseless, unnecessary, unreasonable and unconstitutional,” he said.
