Black woman shot dead in her house in USA

[SofaTroubles]

I opened bbc news this morning to see this headline, along with a video, bodycam from the officers, of what happened. I was so shocked. She’d called the police as she feared an intruder and they went into her house so she could get her ID. One of them
mentioned the pot of water boiling on the stove and said he didn’t want a fire. So she removed it, and as she was talking to him he literally shot her. Multiple times. And killed her. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. I’ve checked mumsnet for another thread and can’t find anything and I just went back on bbc news to post the link and it’s disappeared.

This poor woman and her loved ones. This is heartbreaking and sadly too common.
I can't even begin to explain how sad I feel for her. She basically got shot for doing what he asked her to do and he used it as an excuse to shoot her.

I believe Wayne Couzens had worked for other police forces before the Met and had been ‘moved’ because of his inappropriate behaviour.

That's bad I wonder why he wasent sacked?

Awful. Why did it jump from them apparently leaving and then they were in her house asking for her ID?

But I also wondered why she said what she did about rebuke, as it is a bit odd. And why was there a pan of boiling water? She certainly seemed to accept it was potentially threatening as she mentioned it a couple of times.

Of course, if they genuinely did need to use force, it didn’t have to be lethal. As stated previously why didn’t they just leave?

Fawning is as much a defence response as flight or fight when we sense we’re in danger. Apologising, being overly “nice” is very common.

But I also wondered why she said what she did about rebuke, as it is a bit odd. And why was there a pan of boiling water

I haven’t looked into all the details but many Americans boil water instead of using kettles. It’s really not that unusual she had a pan of boiling water on.

I think, not sure - and maybe some can correct me if wrong - that rebuke came because the officer said something she found rude.

As they speak in her living room, the deputies note the pot on the lit stove and one says, "we don't need a fire while we're here." Massey gets up and turns off the stove and the shooting then follows

Ffs..I’ve just read this…so it appears she would’ve been nowhere near the pot if they hadn’t effectively told her to turn it off. What a joke.

If they were that spooked why not get up yourself and turn it off then chuck the water out, instead of directing her towards the “weapon” would’ve caused an argument sure but better than shooting her!

This is happening too often .

His manner was incredibly aggressive, before she was anywhere near the stove. He criticises her for being slow to give her full name. Multiple reasons for someone to struggle recall their name quickly. Poor woman she was like a little Bambi in the headlights.

I did think that but I thought they used a kettle on the hob but yes, I agree it might not be as odd as initially thought.

Perhaps she was about to cook some pasta when she heard an intruder? I mean, it’s unlikely she boiled a pan of water with the intention of throwing it over 2 armed police officers after she’d called them.

Yes he came with a bad attitude. This is a clear well written account of it in the guardian.

btw, for anyone less familiar with the phrase “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus” as it may not be commonly used in all cultures, it’s usually a phrase to express strong disapproval of something or challenging something someone is saying. It does NOT mean she is going to commit an act of violence.

And as an American he should’ve known that. Had she been say a white southern baptist American woman saying that to him he wouldn’t have reacted in the same way to her saying that.

He was just incensed by her existence it seems.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/22/sonya-massey-illinois-shooting-video

Yeah I know the kind of kettle you mean, I had one when I was living in Pennsylvania, but some just use a pot on the hob or a microwave!

I saw this on the weekend. There are other videos around. I won’t link any because it’s just too upsetting.

As a woman of colour, I can’t believe I used to want to live in America.

It's truly horrific. This woman was dehumanised and murdered.

It’s horrific. He was rude and difficult from the off and I she is calm and non challenging when she responds to his challenging behaviour. She apologies immediately and sucks away as he shoots her in the head. The counter is in between and she was never a threat. His contempt for her is evident across the recording. It’s utterly chilling.

I don’t think you can compare the UK police to the American police. In general US police are more ignorant, less educated, thuggish, brutish, racist, and terrifying. If I was in trouble in the US, I would not approach a police officer. And I am a middle class white woman. Indeed, I used to live there as a child and I remember my dad being pulled over by the police, and he turned white, told us all to stay in the car no matter what, not to move,
not to shout, not to speak.

Are they still raising people who don’t consider minority ethnic groups human? How the hell are they allowing that? Where are these attitudes coming from?

I think DC should be removed from racist families for neglect.

That reminds me of the 'man' who killed Sarah Everard (refuse to name him). He's worked for two other forces and the Met failed to vett him.So that can and does happen here too. Frightening.

6 days ago
this thread is old in general not new things

That's as may be, but posters saying 'it couldn't happen here' don't know that it already has. Many times.

🤬 Scum of the earth! Yet they wonder why POC are so reluctant to deal with police.

It seems as though being black in the US is a threat

It is.

Disgusting

* He was fired. He threatened to shoot her in the face and did so. He tried to stop
his partner from providing basic aid. He has been charged with three counts of murder.