Sean Grayson, 31, the former sheriff’s deputy, who fatally shot Sonya Massey in 2024, is now scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday. He was convicted of second-degree murder in October. Grayson has been incarcerated since he was charged with the killing. According to The Independent, he could be sentenced to as much as 20 years in prison with eligibility for probation.
The incident unfolded on July 6, 2024. In the early hours of the day, Massey dialled 911 requesting help. Massey, who had some mental health issues, told 911 that she believed a prowler was outside her home in Springfield.
According to the body camera, Grayson and Sheriff’s Deputy Dawson Farley arrived at the scene and searched the woman’s yard. Then they met her at the door, where she appeared confused, and repeatedly said, “Please, God.”
⚠️WARNING: This post describes a fatal police shooting.
A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, Sean Grayson (31), has been convicted of second-degree murder for the 2024 fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, 36, an unarmed Black mother who had called 911 for help.
Bodycam footage showed… pic.twitter.com/luQQT8BfRN
— True Crime Updates (@TrueCrimeUpdat) October 30, 2025
When the deputies entered her house, they spotted the pot on the stove. Grayson asked Farley to move it. However, at this point, Massey quickly went over there, took the pot, and began teasing Grayson for moving away from it. “The hot, steaming water,” she said.
“I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” said Massey, as the situation got intense. Grayson then drew his sidearm and began yelling at the Black woman, asking her to drop the pan. Then, she proceeded to set the pot down and ducked behind a counter. Then, she picked up the pot again.
This is when Grayson opened fire on the woman. The bullet hit her face. Later, the former deputy admitted that he feared Massey would scald him. In October, he was charged with three counts of first-degree murder. The charge itself could have led to a life sentence, but a jury convicted him of the lesser one.
Officer Sean Patrick Grayson, who killed, Sonya Massey was working at his SIXTH police department in just under 4 years.
Why does his work history look like this?
Would be interesting to know if he had prior complaints leading to resignation. pic.twitter.com/aoPN2hktKk
— Berigal (@nocap_ha) July 23, 2024
For those unversed, Illinois allows for a second-degree murder conviction if the defendant truly believed at the time of the incident that he was in danger. However, there should be solid evidence for it, even if the fear seemed unreasonable.
Clearly, Massey’s family was not happy with how it all turned out. “The justice system did exactly what it’s designed to do today. It’s not meant for us,” said Sontae Massey, the cousin, after the verdict.
He was trying to point out the alleged inequality when it comes to Black people. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump negotiated a $10 million settlement with Sangamon County for the victim’s family.
The case raised some questions about U.S. law enforcement officers shooting Black people at their homes. It also sparked a U.S. Justice Department inquiry. It was settled as the county agreed to implement better training, which led to the retirement of the sheriff who hired Grayson.
