Last month, a black woman in Springfield, Ill., called the police to report an intruder in her home.

Shortly after two police officers arrived, the woman, Sonya Massey was killed. Her family members said police officers led them to believe that their loved one, who suffered from mental illness, was killed by an intruder, according to one report. Her father told People magazine that the police suggested that her wounds were “self inflicted.” 

Recently obtained bodycam footage of the incident told the real story this week. You may not be surprised to learn that the police lied about what happened that night.

In the video, it appears Massey was shot in the face by one of the officers, who pulled his gun out when she stood near a pot of boiling water. Massey is heard rebuking the officer, “in the name of Jesus.”

The officer, Sean Grayson, responds with an expletive laden threat to shoot her in the head. Massey apologizes, and Grayson fires his weapon anyway, killing her. In the moments afterward, he appears nonchalant and unbothered and he discourages his partner from administering medical attention. 

Last week, Grayson was indicted on three counts of first degree murder, along with other charges related to the incident. He was denied a pretrial release.

The tragedy brings to mind other Black women who have suffered similar fates at the hand of police officers: Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, and Sandra Bland, to name just a few. These cases highlight a disturbing pattern of violence against Black women by law enforcement, often rooted in racial bias and a disregard for life. It also reminds us of the death of Micheal Otieno, killed while in law enforcement custody and suffering from mental illness.

Some say that a better trained “force,” could produce better outcomes from situations such as these. A comment from Grayson’s supervisor makes the case that this may not be the answer.

“The Body Worn Camera footage has now been released, and the public can see what we saw: Sonya Massey lost her life due to an unjustifiable and reckless decision by former Deputy Sean Grayson,”

Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell stated on Monday. “Grayson had other options available that he should have used. His actions were inexcusable and do not reflect the values or training of our office.”

He’s saying his officer knew better, but chose brutality instead.

The frequency of these incidents point to a lack of transparency and accountability within law enforcement. The attempts to mislead Massey’s family about the circumstances of her death reveal a “cover-up culture” that erodes what’s left of the public trust.

Let’s hope the recent endorsement of former prosecutor Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate brings a new dimension to the conversation on police reform. Her background in criminal justice has drawn both praise and criticism, placing her in a unique position. We hope her candidacy sparks discussion about addressing the deep-rooted issues in our criminal justice system, including the use of force against Black people and those with mental health challenges. 

Meaningful change will require more than just policy adjustments. We hope Harris’ presence on the national stage pushes these crucial conversations to the forefront.