'Don't know the exact case': Trump unfamiliar with Sonya Massey shooting

Former President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he was not familiar with the details of Sonya Massey, the Black woman who died after being shot earlier this month by an Illinois sheriff's deputy. 

"I don't know the exact case but I saw something, and it didn't look, it didn't look good to me," Trump said during a Q&A panel with reporters at the National Association of Black Journalists Annual Convention in Chicago.

“You're talking with the water right?” Trump added.

Massey died in her home after being shot while holding a pot of water on July 6. Her death sparked national outrage as many called for justice and communities across the country held vigils for the 36-year-old woman. Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean P. Grayson, who was responding to Massey's call about a possible intruder, is charged with her murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

According to detailed court documents released earlier this month, Massey put her hands in the air and said “I’m sorry” and then ducked for cover after Grayson drew his weapon and threatened to shoot Massey in the face. Massey had initially called authorities about a possible intruder in her home.

Massy was given permission to remove a pot of boiling water from her stove, but Grayson began "aggressively yelling" at Massey to put the pot down. In graphic bodycam footage of the shooting, Grayson can be heard saying "I swear to God. I’ll f— shoot you right in your f— face" before firing at Massey.

Grayson fired at Massey three times, striking her once in the face. She was killed by a bullet that hit beneath her left eye, an autopsy released last week confirmed.

Trump on Wednesday attended NABJ's national conference where he participated in a combative and controversial wide-ranging Q&A. The appearance came as the 2024 presidential election is heating up following President Joe Biden dropping out and Vice President Kamala Harris stepping up as the leading Democratic contender.

Loud gasps echoed through the convention hall at the Hilton Chicago when Trump admitted to not knowing the details of Massey's death, where hundreds were present for the panel.

Trump has previously said he would support police getting immunity from prosecution if he's re-elected president. A reporter on the NABJ panelist, Semafor's Kadia Goba, asked whether the police officer in Massey’s case would have immunity under Trump's presidency.

Trump sidestepped the question before diverting to a complaint about gun violence in Chicago. 

When asked again about immunity, Trump said that he would help a person who “made an innocent mistake.”

“If I felt or if a group of people would feel that somebody was being unfairly prosecuted because the person did a good job, maybe with a crime, or made a mistake, an innocent mistake…I would want to help that person,” Trump said.

The former president said that there are some cases where officers have to respond quickly while out in the field and that it could result in "very bad decisions."

"Sometimes you have less than a second to make a life and death decision and sometimes very bad decisions are made," Trump said. "They're not made from an evil standpoint, but they're made from the standpoint of 'they made a mistake.'"

Contributing: Steven Spearie, USA TODAY Network