Former Illinois sheriff deputy convicted of second-degree murder in Sonya Massey killing

Former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson on Wednesday was convicted of second-degree murder for the death of Sonya Massey, who was shot last year.

Massey, a black woman in Illinois, called 911 to report a suspected prowler in July 2024. Grayson, who was one of the deputies who responded to the call, fired his weapon three times after he allegedly felt threatened by a pan of hot water Massey was moving from her stove.

Video footage of the encounter from police body cameras confirmed Grayson fired the shots at Massey, including the killing shot to the head that was confirmed by an autopsy. 

He was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, but the jury was given an option for second-degree murder, per USA Today.

Attorneys for Massey's family said they wished Grayson was convicted of first-degree murder but that the verdict was "a measure of justice for Sonya Massey."

"Accountability has begun, and we now hope the court will impose a meaningful sentence that reflects the severity of these crimes and the life that was lost," the attorneys said in a statement. "We will continue to fight for Sonya’s family and for reforms that protect everyone from unlawful use of force.

“The family extends deep gratitude to Sangamon County State’s Attorney John C. Milhiser and his entire office," they continued. "They handled the case with professionalism, transparency, and compassion. Prosecuting a police officer is never easy but this team did it with courage and integrity.”

The former deputy now faces up to 20 years in prison. He is expected to be sentenced in January.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.