This is a heart-wrenching tragedy.

A disturbing incident unfolded on July 6, when two Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies responded to Sonya Massey’s call for help. Massey’s first words to the officers were, “Don’t hurt me.” The deputies reassured her that they wouldn’t harm her, implying that her concerns were unfounded. Tragically, less than 30 minutes later, Massey was fatally shot by former Deputy Sean Grayson, who now faces multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree murder.

It has now come to light that Massey wasn’t the only one who had a sense of foreboding about the encounter with the police. The day before, her mother, Donna Massey, called 911 to report her daughter’s mental breakdown. During the call, Donna specifically requested that the responding officers not harm her daughter, according to newly released 911 recordings.

“I don’t want you guys to hurt her, please,” Donna told the 911 dispatcher around 9 a.m. on July 5.

The dispatcher responded by downplaying Donna’s concerns, insisting that the officers would simply do their job and that there was no reason to fear they might cause harm.

Donna reiterated her concerns, saying, “They’re scary. I’m scared of the police.” The dispatcher again downplayed her fears, saying, “There’s nothing to be fearful of, ma’am.”

Roughly 16 hours later, the police arrived at Massey’s doorstep, and tragedy unfolded.

The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, and by extension, all police agencies across America, must confront the reality that Massey and her mother foresaw the devastating outcome.

Black America is constantly being dismissed and told that our fears are unfounded, that if we comply, we’ll be safe. However, every day, Black people are forced to live with the fear of police brutality, and the tragic events keep proving that our fears are justified.

It’s time for law enforcement to acknowledge the deep-seated fears that exist within the Black community and work towards rebuilding trust.