New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman is the latest sports figure to speak out against the killing of Sonya Massey, an unarmed black woman who was shot by an Illinois police officer earlier this month.
“You all will remain silent on this issue… but you will speak loudly and hatefully when your team loses a game,” Stroman wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.
Stroman spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons pitching in Chicago for the Cubs, which is roughly 200 miles southwest of where Massey was shot and killed inside her home in Springfield, Illinois.
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Marcus Stroman #0 of the New York Yankees watches from the dugout during the second inning of the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 6, 2024 in New York City. (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
“We live in a sad society. We pray and bless Sonya Massey's family,” Stroman's post on X continued. “The trauma the black community continually faces is frustrating and unsolvable!”
Massey initially called 911 to report a suspected prowler. Two officers responded to the scene, but at one point the situation became tense between the responding officers and the 36-year-old woman.
BODY CAMERA VIDEO REVEALS CHAOTIC SCENE OF STATE AGENT FATLY SHOOTING SONYA MASSEY, WHO CALLED 911 FOR HELP
The sheriff's body camera video, released Monday, confirmed prosecutors' earlier account of the tense moment when Sean Grayson, who is white, yelled at Massey from across the counter.
Grayson wanted Massey to put down a pot of hot water and then threatened to shoot him, the video shows. Massey crouched down and stood up briefly, and Grayson shot him with his handgun. Massey was hit three times, one fatally in the head.
In this image taken from body camera video released by Illinois State Police, Sonya Massey, left, speaks with former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson outside her home in Springfield, Illinois, July 6, 2024. (Illinois State Police via AP)
Grayson was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and official misconduct. He pleaded not guilty at his initial court appearance. He was later fired by the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office.
Marcus Stroman #0 of the New York Yankees reacts against the Cincinnati Reds during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Stroman also took to Instagram to address the shooting.
“Another day in America. It's beyond exhausting to see innocent black human beings murdered in cold blood. Being black in America is incredibly scary. Racism is thriving but y'all will pretend not to notice. Wake up and realize how fucked up this is… no matter the color of your skin. It's unfair and unjustifiable. It's disgusting to see some in society try to justify these actions. You're trash if you think this is okay. Shoutout to Sonya Massey's family. I can't imagine what you're going through. Prayers and blessings to her family and the entire black community. We will rise and overcome as always,” the two-time MLB All-Star wrote along with a heart emoji.
Stroman's Instagram account has more than 640,000 followers.
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Luis Gil will take the mound in the Bronx on Tuesday night to open the latest edition of the famed subway series with the Mets. Stroman is 7-5 with a 3.51 ERA this season. He will return to the mound on July 27 in Boston for a game against the Red Sox.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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