Tia Mowry is demanding action after the deadly shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black woman in Illinois who was shot and killed in her own home by a sheriff’s deputy after calling 911 to report a possible intruder.
“Okay, so… sorry,” the Family Reunion actress said in an Instagram video on Tuesday as she tried to hold back tears. “I know that this is a very unglamorous video, but I just saw the video of Sonya, and my heart goes out to her family. I am literally shaking right now because to see how someone’s life can be taken in such a way is so terrible and so disgusting. When is this going to stop?”
Mowry also addressed the call for those with larger social media platforms to use their voice and speak up about police brutality.
“I saw many people talk about influencers and how people need to say something, and here I am,” she added, noting that she fears for her 13-year-old son, Cree’s, life. “You all know how passionate I am about my community and my people, and to have a young Black boy who is tall, who is Black and I guess what I’m saying is, I worry. I worry. And now I’m going to have another conversation with him about being careful. When is this going to stop? When is enough, enough?”
In police body camera footage, obtained by ABC News earlier this week, Massey was shot in the face on July 6 by Illinois Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson, who has since been fired from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. Grayson, who is white, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Grayson and a second deputy who has not yet been named were called to Massey’s home at about 12:50 a.m. to investigate a possible prowler, according to the sheriff’s office. ABC News reported that Grayson allegedly later shot Massey after the deputy “aggressively yelled” at her to put down a pot of boiling water, according to charging documents filed in Sangamon County Court.
Grayson reportedly activated his body-worn camera only after the shooting, while the second deputy had activated his camera when he arrived at the scene, per documents.
Mowry joined other notables who have spoken out about Massey’s killing, including Solange Knowles, Cardi B, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“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 wrote in a statement. “Sonya’s family deserves justice. I am heartbroken for her children and her entire family as they face this unthinkable and senseless loss. Jill and I mourn with the rest of the country and our prayers are with Sonya’s family, loved ones, and community during this devastating time.”
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