PEORIA, Ill. — A jury on Wednesday found former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who had called 911 to report a possible prowler outside her Springfield, Illinois, home.
Grayson, 31, was originally charged with first-degree murder, which could have carried a sentence of 45 years to life in prison. The jury, however, opted for the lesser charge of second-degree murder, which allows for the consideration of “serious provocation” or an unreasonable belief that the defendant’s actions were justified. Grayson now faces up to 20 years in prison — or potentially probation — when he is sentenced on January 29, 2026.
The verdict follows a seven-day trial that drew national attention and renewed debate about police use of force, racial bias, and the treatment of individuals with mental health struggles during emergency calls.
The Night of the Shooting
On July 6, 2024, Grayson and another deputy, Dawson Farley, responded to Massey’s 911 call about a prowler. When the deputies entered her home, Massey appeared anxious but cooperative. According to body camera footage presented in court, she told the officers, “Don’t hurt me,” and repeated, “Please God,” as she tried to follow their directions.
Moments later, Grayson noticed a pot of boiling water on the stove and ordered her to move it. Massey stood up to retrieve the pot, and the two briefly joked about the “hot, steaming water.” But when Massey said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” Grayson interpreted the remark as a threat.
Both deputies drew their guns and shouted for her to put the pot down. Grayson fired three shots, one of which struck Massey below the eye, killing her instantly.
Farley did not fire his weapon and testified that he did not perceive Massey as a threat. However, under cross-examination, he acknowledged initially telling investigators he was afraid of the hot water.
Following the shooting, Grayson was heard on body camera footage telling Farley, “She done. You can go get it, but that’s a head shot. There’s nothing you can do, man.” Moments later, when Farley attempted to provide aid, Grayson reportedly threw his medical kit aside, saying, “I’m not even gonna waste my med stuff then.”
The Trial and Testimony
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Grayson’s use of deadly force was unnecessary and reflected poor judgment. They highlighted that Massey, who had a history of mental health challenges, was unarmed and calling for help.
Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, representing Massey’s family, said in a statement after the verdict, “While we believe Grayson’s actions deserved a first-degree conviction, today’s verdict is still a measure of justice for Sonya Massey.”
Grayson took the stand in his own defense, maintaining that he believed Massey was about to throw boiling water on him. He said her statement, “I rebuke you,” felt threatening and that he acted according to his training. “I thought she was going to hurt me,” he told jurors.
Fallout and Reforms
The killing prompted widespread outrage across Illinois and beyond, drawing protests and statements from community leaders, including Rev. Al Sharpton, who joined Massey’s mother, Donna Massey, at public vigils demanding accountability.
The aftermath led to sweeping changes within the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff who had hired Grayson took early retirement following a U.S. Department of Justice inquiry, which resulted in an agreement requiring the department to strengthen de-escalation training, establish a mental health crisis response program, and improve data collection on use-of-force incidents.
Massey’s family also reached a $10 million civil settlement with the county earlier this year.
The case has reignited national conversations about police responses to mental health calls and the disproportionate number of fatal encounters involving Black Americans inside their own homes. In response, Illinois lawmakers passed new legislation requiring greater transparency in the vetting process for police recruits, including disclosing past disciplinary records and psychological evaluations.
As the courtroom emptied Wednesday evening, members of the Massey family wept quietly, holding hands. “This doesn’t bring Sonya back,” her mother said, “but at least the world knows what was done to her — and that it was wrong.”
