A day before Sonya Massey was shot and killed by a police officer, her mother, Donna Massey, called 911 asking for help with her daughter’s mental health issues. Donna pleaded with the dispatcher not to send “combative” police officers to their home.
Sonya, a 36-year-old Black woman, called the police the next day because she believed there was an intruder in her home. Unfortunately, she was fatally shot by a white sheriff’s deputy named Sean Grayson. The deputy was charged with murder and subsequently fired.
Body camera footage from the incident showed that Mr. Grayson and his partner searched outside the house before entering. When Sonya went to the kitchen to remove a pot of water from the stove, she told the deputies, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Mr. Grayson responded with threats and ultimately shot her multiple times.
It was revealed that local law enforcement were aware of Sonya’s mental health issues and that she had been in touch with treatment providers before the tragic event. However, it is unclear if the deputies who responded to the call were informed about her condition.
This heartbreaking incident highlights the importance of police training in handling situations involving individuals with mental health issues. It also sheds light on the need for better communication between emergency responders and mental health professionals to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.