Sonya Massey’s Father Says Family Was 'Misled' About How Daughter Died, Calls Video 'Heart-Wrenching'

"If it were not for the body cam footage, we would not have known that this occurred," James Wilburn said

The father of Sonya Massey is speaking out after body cam footage was released showing his daughter being fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy after calling 911 because she feared an intruder was in her home.

James Wilburn told CBS Mornings that the footage, which showed the key moments between Massey and Sean Grayson, who was a Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy, that led to her death in early July was very difficult for the family to watch.

"It's probably the most horrible, heart-wrenching thing that we've ever seen in our lives, but if it were not for the body cam footage, we would not have known that this occurred," Wilburn told the outlet.

Related: Woman Called 911 Fearing Intruder Was in Home. She Was Killed by Responding Deputy

He said that the family was “never told” it had been a police shooting and they were “under the impression” that “she was killed by the intruder” and that police had found her dead. He said that they were even “misled” to think that she had died from “self-inflicted wounds.”

The footage, released by Illinois State Police on Monday, July 22, and obtained by The New York Times and other outlets, showed two deputies arriving at Massey’s home on the morning of July 6. The deputies appeared to search the front of her home and backyard before knocking on Massey’s door and following her inside and getting her information as she sat on a couch.

When Massey got up to remove a pot of hot water from the stove, she told the deputies, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” before Grayson responded that she “better not” and warned her that he would shoot her in her face, according to the Times. Within a couple of seconds he took out his gun and ordered the woman to drop the pot she was holding before firing two shots at her.

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When asked about what his daughter meant when she told the cops the words, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” Wilburn said, “I think that she feared for her life. There was something, some premonition that she had …  It’s just unexplainable.”

He confirmed to CBS Mornings that Massey left behind a 17-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter, and got emotional as he said that the family was “taking it day to day.”

“They’re having a very hard time,” he said tearfully. “They’re doing as best they can.”

Related: Body Cam Footage of Sonya Massey Killing Released as Biden Mourns 'Unthinkable' Police Shooting of Black Woman

After the body cam footage was released, President Joe Biden released a statement decrying Massey's killing and commending the decision by the Springfield State’s Attorney’s office to charge Grayson with murder.

“Sonya’s death at the hands of a responding officer reminds us that all too often Black Americans face fears for their safety in ways many of the rest of us do not,” Biden said.

“I commend the swift actions that were taken by the Springfield State’s Attorney’s office. While we wait for the case to be prosecuted, let us pray to comfort the grieving,” he added, while urging Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which is a bill aimed at curbing police misconduct.

The Massey family’s lawyer Ben Crump also described the incident as “heinous” in a press conference on Monday, July 22, adding, “Until we get justice for Sonya Massey, we rebuke this discriminatory justice system in the name of Jesus.”

Grayson, who is facing charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct, pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond at the Menard County Detention Facility, according to the The Washington Post.

To help combat systemic racism, consider learning from or donating to these organizations:

• Campaign Zero works to end police brutality in America through research-proven strategies.

• ColorofChange.org works to make the government more responsive to racial disparities.

• National Cares Mentoring Movement provides social and academic support to help Black youth succeed in college and beyond.

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