Sean Grayson, a former sheriff’s deputy from Illinois, passed away this Sunday while serving a 20-year prison term for the tragic shooting of Sonya Massey in her residence. His attorney confirmed the news to News Media.
Daniel Fultz, Grayson’s lawyer, refrained from providing additional information regarding the circumstances of his client’s death.
Grayson had been fighting a battle with colon cancer even before the tragic event unfolded. During his sentencing, legal representatives disclosed that the cancer had metastasized to both his liver and lungs.
In a bid for early release, Grayson applied in May for medical clemency under an Illinois statute that allows inmates with grave illnesses to seek freedom. Unfortunately, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board turned down his request last month.
This booking photograph, provided by the Macon County Jail in Illinois in January 2025, depicts Sean Grayson, a one-time deputy with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department. Grayson was found guilty of murder following the shooting death of Sonya Massey on July 6, 2024, in Springfield, Illinois. (Macon County Jail via AP)
A jury convicted Grayson, 32, in October of second-degree murder in the 2024 shooting death of Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who had called 911 to report a possible prowler outside her Springfield-area home.
Body-camera video released after the July 6, 2024, shooting showed Massey ducking and apologizing moments before Grayson fired three shots inside the home. One struck her in the head.
Massey called police shortly before 1 a.m. to report what she believed was suspicious activity outside the home, about 200 miles southwest of Chicago. Grayson and another deputy walked around the property before speaking with Massey at the front door, where she told them, “Don’t hurt me.”
In this image taken from body camera video released by Illinois State Police on Monday, July 22, 2024, former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson, left, points his gun at Sonya Massey, who called 911 for help, before shooting and killing her inside her home in Springfield, Ill., July 6, 2024. (Illinois State Police via AP)
Inside, video shows Massey appearing confused as deputies questioned her and sought identification to complete a report. As they prepared to leave, Grayson noticed a pot heating on the stove.
“We don’t need a fire while we’re here,” he said.
Prosecutors said Grayson later ordered Massey to move the pot of hot water, threatened to shoot her and then opened fire after she briefly rose from a crouched position.
In this image taken from body camera video released by Illinois State Police, Sonya Massey, left, talks with former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson outside her home in Springfield, Ill., July 6, 2024. (Illinois State Police via AP)
Grayson’s partner, Dawson Farley, later testified that he did not see Massey as a threat and drew his own gun only after Grayson did.
Grayson was fired after the shooting.
A grand jury initially indicted Grayson on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. He pleaded not guilty before jurors convicted him of the lesser murder charge. A judge later imposed the maximum 20-year prison sentence.
Massey’s killing drew national attention, sparked demonstrations and raised questions about Grayson’s work for several law-enforcement agencies before the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office hired him.
Illinois later passed the Sonya Massey Act, requiring agencies to more closely review an applicant’s prior employment history before hiring an officer.
The Justice Department opened a civil-rights investigation and later reached an agreement with Sangamon County, the sheriff’s office and other local agencies to make changes to policing and emergency response. The agreement included expanded training for calls involving people with behavioral-health disabilities and the creation of a mobile crisis-response program.