Vice President Kamala Harris Reaches Out to Family of Fatally Shot Illinois Woman

Background and Communication

On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris personally reached out to the family of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who was tragically killed by a sheriff’s deputy in her Illinois home. This outreach occurred in the aftermath of Massey’s fatal shooting on July 6, which followed her call to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office out of concern for a possible prowler outside her residence.

James Wilburn, the father of Sonya Massey, expressed deep gratitude for Harris's compassionate gesture. “It’s made me feel a lot better today,” Wilburn remarked. “She gave us her heartfelt condolences and assured us that she stands with us 100%, emphasizing that this senseless killing must cease.”

Shadia Massey, a cousin of Sonya Massey, highlighted the profound impact of the Vice President's call. “That call right there meant the world to my family right now,” she conveyed. “It definitely broke every last one of us down. Out of all the phone calls, all the thousands of messages, and phone calls and inboxes, this one really meant the world to our family.” Shadia Massey further elaborated on the emotional significance of the call: “It was her voice for me. It was just me, being Shadia Massey, and I was able to speak with the Vice President of the United States. For her to take time out of her busy schedule to make that one phone call to our family, that meant the world to me. That’s the most amazing thing that’s ever happened in my life.” She concluded with, “She definitely has my vote.”

Incident Details

The events leading to Sonya Massey’s death were captured in body camera footage released on Monday. The footage depicts a confrontation between Deputy Sean Grayson and his partner with Massey at her residence. The situation escalated when Massey moved a pot off her stove, prompting Grayson to issue threatening commands before discharging his weapon. Deputy Grayson has been terminated from his position and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.

Family Reactions and Legal Advocacy

Jeffrey Chao, the father of Sonya Massey, also mentioned that Harris discussed potential reforms to police hiring practices during their conversation. “This shopping from job to job, we’ve got to address this issue of individuals moving from one department to another, being passed around to save money by avoiding proper training through the academy,” Chao stated. “You can resign from one department and then secure employment in another, and if this practice were curtailed, my daughter might still be alive. This individual should never have been entrusted with a badge and a gun.”

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents the Massey family, emphasized Harris's commitment to legislative reforms. “She spoke about the necessity of passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would establish a federal registry of police officers and their records,” Crump said. “She acknowledged that the fight for such legislation continues.”

Crump also noted that Harris devoted considerable time to speaking with Sonya Massey’s son, Malachi Hill Massey. Malachi, deeply affected by his mother’s death, expressed his emotional response: “I really don’t have no words. I got very emotional. Like, I don’t know. I started crying. Like this, this is crazy. I don’t have no words for this, honestly.”

Additional Outreach and Support

Crump highlighted that Harris has extended similar gestures of support to other families he represents. Harris's outreach to the Massey family underscores her continued dedication to civil rights and justice issues. “As busy as she is with international matters, to take time to affirm ‘I won’t forget this Black woman and her family,’ that speaks volumes about her character,” Crump commented.

Additionally, Harris left a voicemail for the family of D’Vontaye Mitchell, a Black man who died after being restrained by hotel security guards in Milwaukee last month. The voicemail, obtained by NBC News, conveyed Harris’s condolences and support: “Attorney Crump, It’s Kamala Harris calling and I was hoping to be able to speak with Ms. Giles directly,” Harris said in the message. “But I just want to leave this voicemail for you to share with her and then we will try and connect hopefully sometime soon. Ms. Giles, I want you to know how very sorry I am for the loss of your son D’Vontaye. I am deeply sorry for everything your family has endured, particularly the manner of his death. I understand that your grief and pain are overwhelming, but please know that you and your family are in my thoughts.”

Harris concluded the message with affirmations of support: “And of course, having Attorney Crump by your side is going to be very important. He is a true advocate for justice. But I am thinking about you and sending my prayers and best wishes. I will speak with you soon. Take care. It’s Kamala Harris. Buh-bye.”

When contacted for comment, Harris's campaign directed inquiries to the vice president’s office, which had not responded at the time of publication.