Additional Coverage:
- Sean Grayson, ex-deputy convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey, dies, attorney says (nbcnews.com)
Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her home in 2024, has died, according to his attorney.
Daniel Fultz, who represented Grayson during his murder trial, confirmed that Grayson passed away around midday. At the time of his death, Grayson was six months into a 20-year sentence for second-degree murder.
Grayson, 32, had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, as revealed by another defense attorney, Mark Wykoff, during sentencing earlier this year. Despite this, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board denied his request for medical release in July. It remains unclear whether cancer was the cause of his death.
The shooting occurred after Massey, 36, called 911 to report a prowler outside her home. Body camera footage captured the incident, which sparked protests and demands for justice. Grayson was convicted in 2025.
Court testimony detailed that during the 911 response, Massey picked up a pot of boiling water from her stove, causing Grayson to back away. Grayson testified that he believed Massey was preparing to throw the water on him after she said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” When Grayson appeared confused, Massey repeated the phrase.
Despite Grayson’s threat to shoot, and Massey’s subsequent apology and dropping to the floor, he fired three shots, striking her. Prosecutors stated that Grayson did not provide medical assistance following the shooting.
Sonya Massey was later pronounced dead at the hospital.