Talk:Killing of Sonya Massey

She Flung the Boiling Water Towards the Officers

I realize that independent research isn't allowed, but is there no news publication that has reported that the officer opened fire because she attempted to attack them with boiling water? It's very relevant information to the article, but I don't have a source to cite beyond that it's visible from the second body cam. If someone can find an appropriate citation, please add this information to the article.

If you go frame-by-frame at 28:22 in the video released on the Illinois State Police YouTube channel, for exactly one frame you can clearly see Mrs. Massey attempt to use the boiling water to assault the police. It saddens me that the article currently illustrates such an inaccurate version of the events by omitting this major detail, and I'm eager for it to more comprehensively describe the killing, but I know rules are rules. Uchiha Itachi 25 (talk) 08:58, 24 July 2024 (UTC)

I guess there is one https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/body-camera-sheriffs-deputy-shooting-woman/ source. But I am not entirely sure about adding that detail to the article. NothingMoreThanThis (talk) 12:45, 24 July 2024 (UTC)

> ... clearly see Mrs. Massey attempt to use the boiling water to assault the police

That is too strong of an assertion to make without substantiation. If it were so "clearly" seen, we'd expect multiple independent sources to also make this observation.

I also do not think that frame of video is as clear as you say. There's an instant where she's holding the pot vertically above her head with one hand such that the bottom of the pot is visible to the body cam. I don't think that necessary means she's mid-throw. I'd be more easily convinced that Massey was showing she'd already emptied the pot. 73.15.163.92 (talk) 20:58, 25 July 2024 (UTC)

I agree. War (talk) 03:57, 26 July 2024 (UTC)

The current source for the claim that Massey threw the pot of water at Grayson is a WordPress blog which describes the incident subjectively. The description includes a great deal of speculation, uses unclear language, and leaves out parts of the interaction that provide context. Crucially, it does not claim that Massey threw the pot despite placing a great deal of blame on her for the incident.

Have you seen Sean Grayson's bodycam video? Do you know how to change the speed on videos? The blogger transcribed the event using both bodycam videos and was able to observe Massey standing with pot in hand, the steam rising from the chair and floor after she tossed the water at Grayson, the wet floor that the unidentified deputy walked across to try to stop the bleeding, and the pot that he removed from beside her body. ExistentialBliss (talk) 02:17, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

The blogger's previous post details how YouTube removed her video titled "White Race = Artificial Intelligence AI w/ Superpower of Grand Illusionist Satan". Other posts are about COVID-19 being a bioweapon, psychiatrists facilitating demonic possession, and other a range of conspiratorial beliefs.

What does the blogger's other articles have to do with the fact that Sean Grayson's actual bodycam video, if you slow down the speed, shows Sonya Massey quickly standing with the pot and the steam rising near Grayson where the water fell? Blogger transcribed from both bodycam videos. The human mind is a scary thing. You show it a truth it doesn't want to see and it starts reaching for irrelevant information, anything to try to disprove it. ExistentialBliss (talk) 02:27, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

It sounds like you're very close to the blogger and that might be influencing your view of their credibility. Spifferella (talk) 03:53, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

I'm new to editing Wikipedia and not entirely confident editing an article of this nature but this is clearly not a reliable source and even if it were it still doesn't support the claim being made. I'd appreciate it if someone could help correct this. Spifferella (talk) 09:50, 27 July 2024 (UTC)

• @Uchiha Itachi 25: - before you made this post, I'm the editor who added CBS News reported that footage of the shooting showed that "Massey may be holding the pot of water above her head right before the shots are fired. - this was the best description that I could find from a reliable source at the time. Discussing the event itself, since the second video camera has no sound, how do we know what came first - did Massey throw the pot first, or was it Grayson who shot first, causing Massey to release the pot she had lifted up? Perhaps this is why reliable sources do not assert that she threw the pot. Meanwhile, NothingMoreThanThis - are you referring to the quote While unclear due to an obstructed view, the pot of water hit the ground very close to when shots rang out.? This is quite vague to me. starship.paint (RUN) 13:44, 26 July 2024 (UTC)

• It's annoying when one makes accurate edits based on actual bodycam videos and then an editor undoes them. Why would an edit transcribed from both bodycam videos be deleted "because it did not appear constructive"? which is the message left on my talk page, as if I was vandalizing the page with correct information. PoliceActivity YouTube upload https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2rMB2fYjuY&rco=1 shows both bodycams. And Grayson's bodycam, at the 10:40 mark, shows that Massey quickly rises from her crouched position and throws the steaming water at Grayson. Steam actually rises from the chair and floor near Grayson's feet afterwards. Dr. Todd Grande also uploaded a YouTube video in which Massey is shown standing and emptying the pot at Grayson at the 5:11 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6_1WtaSAAU (ExistentialBliss (talk) 14:54, 27 July 2024 (UTC))

  YouTube is not a reliable source by WP standards. A. Randomdude0000 (talk) 01:25, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

  Two police bodycams are not reliable sources? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2rMB2fYjuY&rco=1 Well, I guess mainstream media can make the narrative whatever they want it to be, which they have done successfully. ExistentialBliss (talk) 01:50, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

  Bodycam footage is a primary source. While I think some people are overly phobic, more so than policy actually requires, about primary sources, I agree with not using them here at this point. We do not know if these bloggers or YouTubers have published authoritative versions of this footage. Even if they have, they may have omitted context (remember how the cops in the Rodney King beating were acquitted in part because the full video supported their story that King had been aggressive toward them?)

  If reliable sources report that this take on what happened appears to be the case, then we can repeat that here. If the official investigation or prosecution states this as a fact, then we can put it in. But not on the basis of what we have now. Daniel Case (talk) 05:17, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

  What was done was using WP:OR. Even Grande says “appear” to throw. It is not conclusive enough, get an actual reliable source. starship.paint (RUN) 01:27, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

  That video only provides the slowed-down version for people who don't know how to change the speed on YouTube videos. But Grayson's actual bodycam shows her jumping up with the pot when he takes steps towards her. All you have to do is slow down the speed. Steam rises from the chair and floor after she tosses the water. The floor is wet when the deputy goes to render aid, and the pot is next to Massey's body. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2rMB2fYjuY&rco=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSN0cqzl__4&rco=1 ExistentialBliss (talk) 01:56, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

  We’re not supposed to use our own interpretations of videos to write Wikipedia. We go by what reliable sources say. The best that I know of is CBS: Three shots are heard in the video. In the video, Massey may be holding the pot of water above her head right before the shots are fired. [1] starship.paint (RUN) 02:27, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

  A slowed-down version is an altered video nevertheless. I see her rising, but I don't think it shows her jumping up because I don't see her feet leaving the ground. Steam rises from the chair and floor but water does tend to be spilled when an officer shoots an unarmed woman holding it.

  Since the pot is next to Massey's body, it implies she didn't "toss" the water but rather dropped the water as the officers demanded. The pot would be next to the officers' body if she did. Therefore, "Flung" is false. 142.113.140.146 (talk) 20:54, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

Steam rises from the cushioned chair seat close to Grayson after the content of the pot doesn't simply stream on the floor but is hurled toward him. You have to slow down the videos, and there are two bodycams.This misinformation being actively promoted on this Wikipedia page by users deleting facts could help lead to a riot, with people who don't know how to do research changing content to make it seem as though Grayson shot Massey "for no reason." ExistentialBliss (talk) 04:25, 29 July 2024 (UTC)

This is WP:OR and nonsense. The pot was not hurled. Grayson shouts at Massey to "drop the fucking pot" after he has shot her and she has fallen to the ground.[2] She died with the pot. WWGB (talk) 04:51, 29 July 2024 (UTC)

They can't read carefully either. I said the CONTENT of the pot was hurled. ExistentialBliss (talk) 05:12, 29 July 2024 (UTC)

For the record, the pot is seen overturned on the black chair in front of Grayson after the shooting. Smokerton (talk) 02:16, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

"Seen" by whom? You, or a reliable source? WWGB (talk) 03:45, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

By anyone who plays the video in 0.25x speed or goes frame by frame on Grayson's bodycam Smokerton (talk) 21:48, 21 August 2024 (UTC)

Here's the raw bodycam, from 10:45 to 10:49 you can see the pot on the chair with steam rising up through the chair Smokerton (talk) 14:17, 25 August 2024 (UTC)

No there are two body cams. You have not seen the second one, read the entry here in talk entitled:

"There are two body cameras, the one all over the news leaves out the water throw" Central16 (talk) 09:39, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

No she doesn't fling the pot. There is no flinging motion. I've watched it dozens of times.

Instead she raises her hands above her head, which you are supposed to do, when police is pointing a gun at you. Worstbull (talk) 12:38, 29 July 2024 (UTC)

No there are two body cams. You have not seen the second one, read the entry here in talk entitled:

"There are two body cameras, the one all over the news leaves out the water throw" Central16 (talk) 09:39, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

No she doesn't fling the pot. There is no flinging motion. I've watched X60A7941G dozens of times.

Instead she raises her hands above her head, which you are supposed to do, when police is pointing a gun at you. Worstbull (talk) 20:50, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

You are absolutely not supposed to suddenly stand up from a crouching position while holding a pot of boiling water when police are pointing guns at you.🤣 Uchiha Itachi 25 (talk) 12:49, 15 August 2024 (UTC)

The video you refer to showing the water throw is Sean Grayson's body camera # X60A7941G about 9 minutes long. But the one all over the news is the longer one from the unidentified deputy # X60A83691. In that one the officers arms obscure the view when after she drops down out of view behind the counter. But only in the much less seen body camera # X60A7941G do we see as Grayson gets closer, Massey pops up suddenly holding the pot above her and thrusting it outward and in this springing motion turns sideways. I suppose the news thought the longer one must be better than the shorter one before it became realized that only in the shorter one could you see Massey pop up again with the pot. Central16 (talk) 09:50, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

No she doesn't fling the pot. There is no flinging motion. I've watched the body cam video in question (X60A7941G) dozens of times.

Instead she raises her hands above her head, which you are supposed to do, when police is pointing a gun at you. Worstbull (talk) 20:51, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

On body cam 1 (X60A83691) we can see raises her hands and then drops to the floor of her own volition in what is probably a squatting position. Then she is out of view of the police. The police come closer to see where she is. At this point the officers arms block the view, Grayson says "drop the pot" then they shoot and kill her. They were only able to shoot her because after she crouched down behind the counter she stood back up again and was again in their line of fire. On body cam 2 (X60A7941G) the cops arms are not blocking this and we can see Sonya Massey spring up from the crouching position with the pot above her head. This is seen in the moving video as well as captured in stills. Central16 (talk) 18:35, 31 July 2024 (UTC)

Correct, she raises her hands above her head, which you are supposed to do, when police is pointing a gun at you.

Besides, if the officers were really afraid of the hot water, why did they storm at her, towards the hot water? They were at a totally safe distance, before they put out their guns and pointed them at Sonya Massey.

Again - she doesn't fling the pot. There is no flinging motion. I've watched the body cam video in question (X60A7941G) dozens of times. She raises her hands - with the pot still in her hands - above her head, as a police officer approaches her at gun point. That's exactly what you are supposed to do.

Stop spreading misinformation, Wikipedia is not for original research. It's better to leave that to the professionals Worstbull (talk) 21:33, 31 July 2024 (UTC)

You are absolutely not supposed to suddenly stand up from a crouching position while holding a pot of boiling water when police are pointing guns at you. 🤣 Uchiha Itachi 25 (talk) 12:48, 15 August 2024 (UTC)

@Uchiha Itachi 25 your correct thank you finally justice for my mom yes Sonya Massey was my mom I'm her daughter 2600:8805:6118:F200:D860:5999:7775:3E4E (talk) 18:51, 8 August 2024 (UTC)

What? I'm saying your mother clearly attempted to assault the police and was killed in self-defense. Uchiha Itachi 25 (talk) 12:40, 15 August 2024 (UTC)

There are two body cameras, the one all over the news leaves out the water throw

Body camera footage of the shooting was released on July 22 and news websites showed the footage of bodycam # X60A83691 from the unidentified deputy's bodycam. Sean Grayson did not turn on his body cam (# X60A7941G) until just after the shooting. However body cameras always record video and they also retain several seconds of the video prior to being activated. While Grayson's bodycam did not retain footage of the investigation leading up to the shooting it did retain the shooting itself few seconds before it as well as at least 8 minutes after it. After Massey had squatted down behind the counter and out of the officers view, Grayson then moved closer. On the unidentified deputy's bodycam what happens next is briefly blocked from view by the officers arms which are extended forward holding their guns but on Grayson's bodycam (X60A7941G) Sonya Massey can be seen standing up suddenly with a pot and in an arcing motion above her head turned the pot sideways and outward. One can see the pot with handle being held by Massey above her head and coming into a sideways position. At this point the gun shots are heard and hit Massey in her head. Moments later one of the things Grayson says to the other deputy is "dude I'm not taking fucking boiling water to the fucking head and look, it fucking came right to our feet too." Central16 (talk) 09:29, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

No she doesn't fling the pot. There is no "arcing" motion. I've watched X60A7941G dozens of times.

Instead she raises her hands above her head, which you are supposed to do, when police is pointing a gun at you. Stop spreading misinformation, Wikipedia is not for original research. It's better to leave that to the professionals. Worstbull (talk) 20:53, 30 July 2024 (UTC)

You can even see the water on the ground near the officer's feet at the end. Why do you believe the pot rotated to face the officers? You are absolutely not supposed to suddenly stand up from a crouching position while holding a pot of boiling water when police are pointing guns at you. Things must be very different over there in England. You stop spreading misinformation, and perhaps check that your eyesight is still well if you can't see the water on the ground nor the pot raised above her head. Uchiha Itachi 25 (talk) 12:44, 15 August 2024 (UTC)

References

Why make it about race? Its just dumb.

... Did we realy have to clarify the color of people. Why does it matter? 2.248.99.216 (talk) 14:53, 11 December 2024 (UTC)

Many reliable sources emphasize the significance of their races.

• Illinois police release bodycam video of fatal shooting of Black woman in her home (CNN)
• Biden calls for justice after footage released of police killing Black woman (The Guardian)
• Sonya Massey's dad rages after shooting: 'You killed the wrong Black woman' (Newsweek)
• Harris condemns shooting of Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman (The Washington Post)
• Justice Department demands records from Illinois sheriff after July killing of Black woman (The Associated Press)
• Atlanta Black women, allies to 'Stand with Sonya Massey' at Woodruff Park demonstration (FOX 5 Atlanta)
• Police killing of Sonya Massey is striking example of another 'senseless loss' in the black community (The 19th)
• Black Lives Matter holds protest in Hartford after Sonya Massey's death by Illinois trooper (WTNH)

WP:Wikipedia is not censored. TheAmazingRaspberry (talk) 17:40, 11 December 2024 (UTC)