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Former Illinois Deputy Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in Sonya Massey’s Death
A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, Sean Grayson, was convicted Wednesday of second-degree murder in the 2024 shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black mother of two who had called 911 reporting a possible prowler. The verdict came after nearly 12 hours of jury deliberation.
Grayson had been charged with first-degree murder, but the jury was also given the option to consider a lesser charge of second-degree murder. Outside the courthouse, protesters celebrated the guilty verdict, while Grayson’s family was visibly distressed.
Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, who represented Massey’s family in a $10 million civil settlement, stated their belief that Grayson’s actions warranted a first-degree murder conviction. However, they acknowledged the verdict as “still a measure of justice for Sonya Massey.”
“I’m fueled by rage right now,” expressed Sontae Massey, Sonya’s cousin, outside the courthouse. “If you get an officer who says he’s going to shoot you in the face, and then he shoots you in the face, and you only get second-degree murder?”
Former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow suggested that the defense’s inclusion of the second-degree murder charge was a “strategic decision,” likely aimed at avoiding an all-or-nothing verdict.
Grayson now faces a sentence of four to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder. Under state law, he could be eligible for day-for-day credit for good behavior, potentially reducing his sentence to half its length. James Wilburn, Massey’s father, hopes for the maximum sentence, noting Grayson’s “cocky” demeanor throughout the trial until the conviction.
The incident leading to Massey’s death occurred in July 2024, when she called authorities about a potential prowler at her Springfield home. Body camera footage captured the moments she was shot in her kitchen during a confrontation over a pot of boiling water. Massey’s death, and the fact that Grayson is white, sparked nationwide protests and renewed scrutiny of law enforcement shootings of Black individuals in their homes.
“There’s a difference in this country when you have my skin color and Grayson’s skin color,” Wilburn stated. “We need serious justice, not a miscarriage of justice that happened here in Peoria.” In response to Massey’s death, the Sonya Massey Act was signed in Illinois in August, mandating stricter background checks for police hiring.
During the trial, Grayson’s former partner, Deputy Dawson Farley, testified that he did not fear Massey’s actions and drew his weapon to “back my partner.” The defense highlighted that Farley amended his police report after Grayson was charged with first-degree murder, suggesting a change in his account.
Body camera video, a central piece of evidence, was played three times in court, showing Massey speaking with deputies and removing a pot of hot water from her stove just before the shooting. Grayson, testifying in his own defense on Monday, claimed he believed Massey was going to throw boiling water on him after she said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” which he interpreted as a threat. He stated he did not use his stun gun due to uncertainty about its effectiveness given her clothing.
In closing arguments, First Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Beth Rodgers asserted that Massey made no sudden movements and complied “peacefully” with the order to drop the pot. “‘I’m sorry.’ That is the last thing Sonya Massey said before the defendant murdered her, just like he said he would,” Rodgers told the jury, arguing that Grayson could not claim self-defense as he provoked the use of force.
Defense attorney Daniel Fultz countered, arguing that Massey escalated the situation by picking the pot back up and raising it, leading Grayson to draw his weapon to gain compliance. Fultz described Massey’s death as a “tragedy, but it was not a crime,” urging jurors not to let emotions sway their decision.
However, Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser, in his final closing argument, contended that it was Grayson who was emotionally driven. “These were not the actions of a scared young police officer doing a dangerous job.
These are the actions of a bully,” Milhiser stated. “If anyone was in crisis, it was him.
He snapped.”