Former Illinois Deputy Sean Grayson, Convicted in Sonya Massey Shooting, Dies in Prison

Sean Grayson, convicted of second-degree murder for fatally shooting Sonya Massey in 2024, has died in prison while serving a 20-year sentence.

Former Illinois Deputy Who Shot Sonya Massey Dies While Serving 20-Year Sentence

Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff's deputy convicted of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, died Sunday while serving a 20-year prison sentence, NPR National reports. He was 32.

Grayson's attorney, Daniel Fultz, confirmed his client's death but declined to provide additional details.

Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, was killed on July 6, 2024, after she called 911 to report a possible prowler outside her Springfield-area home. Body camera footage released by Illinois State Police showed Massey crouching in her kitchen, apologizing, moments before Grayson shot her in the face.

Grayson had directed Massey to remove a pot of hot water from the stove. As she held the pot, she told the deputies, "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus." Grayson then threatened to shoot her, drew his handgun and ordered her to put the pot down. After she apologized and ducked behind a kitchen counter, Grayson fired three times.

The second deputy on the scene, Dawson Farley, later testified that he did not consider Massey a threat and only drew his own weapon after Grayson had already drawn his.

Grayson was fired following the shooting and initially charged with first-degree murder. Jurors convicted him on the lesser charge of second-degree murder in October, after Grayson argued he feared Massey would throw the hot water at him. He was sentenced in January to the maximum term of 20 years.

Prior to Massey's killing, Grayson had been diagnosed with colon cancer, and his attorneys disclosed at sentencing that the disease had spread to his liver and lungs. In May, only months into his sentence, he sought medical release under an Illinois law covering prisoners with terminal illnesses or serious medical conditions. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board denied that request last month.

Massey's death drew widespread protests and national attention, and prompted scrutiny of how Grayson had moved through several law enforcement agencies before being hired by the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office.

In response, Illinois lawmakers passed the Sonya Massey Act, requiring law enforcement agencies to conduct more thorough reviews of applicants' previous employment records before hiring officers.

The U.S. Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation following Massey's death and later reached an agreement with Sangamon County, its sheriff's office and related agencies. Under the agreement, the agencies are required to implement changes to policing and emergency response practices, including additional training for interactions with individuals with behavioral health disabilities and the development of a mobile crisis response program.

Source: NPR National