Talk:Killing of Sonya Massey

Unsourced statement regarding shooter motive

I've removed the following unsourced (and frankly dubious, IMO) statement regarding the shooter's motive. I decided to remove outright rather than place a tag due to the dubious nature of the statement and the potential to spread misinformation. Existing source cited at the end of the sentence did not mention a possible motive. If anyone can find a source, please add it back in.

Statement in question:

Some speculate that his cancer diagnosis was a motive behind the killing, with his lawyer alleging that due to him having cancer, his detention would become a burden on the county because he "requires special medical treatment".
Absentaneous (talk) 11:44, 23 July 2024 (UTC)

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)

Grayson incarceration location

The piece of shit is not showing up on the Sangamon County Jail inmate search website (https://sangamonil.gov/departments/s-z/sheriff/inmate-roster)... does anyone know if he has been released or transferred to a different jail? This would be good to add to the article if anyone knows. Praiawart (talk) 01:10, 25 July 2024 (UTC)

However we feel about this case, we do not use language like this on the talk page. Daniel Case (talk) 05:20, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

Should We Add The Context Of Boiling Water At The Scene?

I'm not trying to say that water was flung at the offices, however there is verifiable proof that boiling water was spilled at some point. In the body cam you can see the hot water hit the ground and steam rises up after the shooting. Can we add this to the incident? The current page seems to imply the officer shot her for no reason. I believe we need to add the context of the boiling water to this article for accuracy. 2601:284:101:80B0:C3C:AF72:E708:79B (talk) 04:14, 25 July 2024 (UTC)

If there are no objections, I will revert the page and return the boiling water context to the article. O see no reason why this detail should be excluded. Again, I am not saying she threw the water, I just believe we need to add that the boiling water was there and is an important detail in this case. 2601:284:101:80B0:C3C:AF72:E708:79B (talk) 04:18, 25 July 2024 (UTC)

If that detail is mentioned by a WP:RS in context, perhaps yes. Otherwise it can be considered original research and should be avoided. - Fuzheado | Talk 16:01, 25 July 2024 (UTC)

Get a reliable source that backs up this information. starship.paint (RUN) 13:45, 26 July 2024 (UTC)

Grayson discharge

It is being reported by multiple sources that he was discharged from the Army for "serious misconduct" but so far (25 July) it is not specified if his discharge was Other Than Honorable. ABC also reported that he plead guilty to two DUIs in 2015 and 2016. MyIP19216811 (talk) 23:38, 25 July 2024 (UTC)

Vague Intro

The intro doesn't explain why the officers escalate. Sonya said "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus" which, while holding a pot of boiling water, can be perceived as a threat by someone who may not be in the right state of mind. So I think it would be important that's mentioned otherwise it seems as if the officers drew their weapons for no reason. Everything prior to her saying that was cordial. 69.157.66.195 (talk) 01:21, 27 July 2024 (UTC)

IP User Adding Unsourced Info

There appears to be an IP Address user who is adding unsourced information to this article over the last few days with what seems to be their own view that Massey threw boiling water. He has already been reverted by multiple users. Can action please be taken to prevent this user from adding unproductive edits to this article? Barbarbarty (talk) 18:31, 27 July 2024 (UTC)

I'm amazed by people's inability to conduct real research. I guess mainstream media news, which shows the unidentified officer's bodycam, is the only news that counts to these people and regardless of the fact that there were two bodycams activated and Grayson's clearly shows Massey throwing the steaming water at him, which can easily be seen by slowing down his bodycam video to the slowest speed. PoliceActivity uploaded this video on July 22, 2024, which shows Grayson's bodycam at the 10:32 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2rMB2fYjuY&rco=1 ExistentialBliss (talk) 21:22, 27 July 2024 (UTC)

What’s “amazing” is your repeated refusal to follow Wikipedia guidelines. We do not do original research on Wikipedia. Find a source for your contention or else stop edit warring. Barbarbarty (talk) 23:38, 27 July 2024 (UTC)

I agree to not add info that does not have supporting documentation cited. However, there is someone who is editing and stating that Massey threw a pot that had boiling water toward Grayson without including a proper source that actually says or shows this. Also, Grayson never said she threw the pot at him. Can you please do something to stop this?

Thank you. Lynette777 (talk) 04:45, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

As of this posting, the IP user in question is on a 72-hour block. A. Randomdude0000 (talk) 19:43, 28 July 2024 (UTC)

Mention of the "pot"

CNN correctly said "she goes to the stove to turn off a pot of boiling water" but only the ultimate effect may be that the officers caused Massey to check on the pot of boiling water. In the bodycam video in the CNN source and the primary source on YouTube, there is no utterance of the word "pot". I hear a clear mention of "stove" and an inaudible utterance possibly "this"/"her"/"first" preceded by "maybe one second check on". Then the video in the CNN source shows the officers talking about the water, but there is no proof that they talked about the "pot" before they backed away. 142.113.140.146 (talk) 20:22, 28 July 2024 (UTC)