New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman is the latest athlete to condemn the killing of Sonia Massey, an unarmed Black woman who was shot and killed by an Illinois police officer earlier this month.
“You will be quiet about this… but yell your hatred when your team loses a game,” Stroman wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
Stroman spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, about 200 miles southwest of where Massey was shot and killed at his Springfield, Illinois, home.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
New York Yankees player Marcus Stroman (No. 0) watches from the dugout during the top of the second inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 6, 2024 in New York City. (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
“It’s sad the society we live in. Prayers and blessings to the family of Sonia Massey,” Stroman continued in X’s post. “The trauma the black community is continually experiencing is frustrating and irreparable!”
Massey initially called 911 to report a person who may have been wandering. Two officers responded, but at some point tension arose between the responding officers and the 36-year-old woman.
Body camera footage shows chaotic scene after deputy shoots dead Sonia Massey as she calls 911 for help
Sheriff’s body camera footage released Monday backed up prosecutors’ earlier account of the tense moments when Shawn Grayson, who is white, shouted at Massey over the counter.
Grayson was seen on video demanding that Massey put down a pot of boiling water, then threatening to shoot her. Massey ducked and briefly stood up, but Grayson fired his handgun at her. Massey was shot three times, fatally wounding her in the head.
In this image taken from body camera footage released by the Illinois State Police, Sonia Massey, left, talks with former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Shawn Grayson outside her home in Springfield, Illinois, on July 6, 2024. (Illinois State Police via The Associated Press)
Grayson was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, and official misconduct. He pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance. He was later fired from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office.
New York Yankees player Marcus Stroman (number 0) reacts against the Cincinnati Reds during the top of the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 2024 in the Bronx, New York City. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Strowman also spoke out about the shooting on his own Instagram account.
“Just another day in America. Sickening to see an innocent black person murdered in cold blood. Incredibly horrifying to be black in America. Racism is rampant and you guys pretend not to notice. Wake up and understand how awful this is…no matter the color of your skin. This is unfair and cannot be justified. I’m sick of parts of society trying to justify these acts. You are trash who think this is ok. Shout out to Sonia Massey’s family. I can’t imagine what they are going through. Prayers and blessings to her family and the entire black community. As always, we will rise and we will overcome,” Massey, a two-time MLB All-Star, wrote, along with a heart emoji.
Strowman’s Instagram account boasts more than 640,000 followers.
Click here to get the FOX News app
Luis Gil will open the latest edition of the famed Subway Series against the Mets on Tuesday night in the Bronx. Stroman is 7-5 with a 3.51 ERA this season and will pitch again on July 27 in Boston against the Red Sox.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital X’s sports coverage,subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
