Former Deputy Convicted in Sonya Massey's Death

The Tragic Case of Sonya Massey

A jury has found a former Illinois sheriff's deputy guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey. The trial for Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County deputy, took place following the incident where Massey was shot in July 2024 after she called 911 to report a possible intruder at her home in Springfield, Illinois.

Grayson faced three charges: first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. He pleaded not guilty to all counts, according to his attorney. After a seven-day trial, the jury considered the possibility of second-degree murder, as reported by ABC station WLS in Chicago. Grayson's sentencing is scheduled for January 29, 2026, and he could receive a prison sentence ranging from four to 20 years or be given probation. The jury was instructed not to deliberate on the lower charges.

Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, attorneys for Massey’s family, expressed their sentiments regarding the verdict. They stated that the "verdict is still a measure of justice for Sonya Massey." They emphasized the need for accountability and hoped the court would impose a meaningful sentence that reflects the severity of the crimes and the life lost. They also pledged to continue fighting for Sonya’s family and for reforms that protect everyone from unlawful use of force.

James Wilburn, Massey’s father, addressed the press after the trial, stating there was no doubt in his mind that Grayson committed first-degree murder. He noted that while there was no doubt in Grayson’s mind, his attorneys portrayed Massey as the aggressor.

During closing arguments, Sangamon County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Beth Rodgers highlighted the gravity of the situation. She pointed out that when someone threatens to shoot another person in the face and follows through, it constitutes first-degree murder. Rodgers also criticized Grayson’s testimony, claiming he lied repeatedly, including about attempting to turn on his body camera.

According to bodycam footage from Grayson’s partner, Grayson was inside Massey’s home and mentioned a pot of boiling water on her stove, saying, “We don’t need a fire while we’re in here.” Massey then poured the water into the sink and said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” according to the video. Grayson threatened to shoot her, prompting her to apologize and duck behind a counter, covering her face with what appeared to be a red oven mitt. As she briefly rose, Grayson shot her three times in the face, the footage shows.

Rodgers emphasized that Grayson’s claims of fear were unfounded. She argued that Massey’s final words before being shot with her hands up were, “I’m sorry,” according to WICS.

Daniel Fultz, Grayson’s defense lawyer, presented a different perspective during closing arguments. He described the incident as a tragedy but not a crime, asserting that the outcome was driven by Massey’s actions. Fultz claimed that when Massey said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” Grayson believed it was a threat. He further stated that the jury didn’t have to agree with Grayson’s beliefs, but that’s what he believed.

Fultz also emphasized that the jury should not let their emotions dictate the outcome of the case. However, in rebuttal, Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser pointed out that the defendant allowed his emotions to influence the events in Sonya Massey’s kitchen.

The prosecution played Grayson’s partner’s body camera footage of the shooting, which caused several family members of Massey to cry or leave the courtroom. Grayson leaned forward over a table, not watching the monitor. One juror appeared to cry as she watched the footage, holding a notepad up to her face in an attempt to hide behind it.

Milhiser referenced the defense’s instruction for the jury not to let their emotions decide the results of the trial, highlighting that the defendant let his emotions dictate the outcome of what happened in Sonya Massey’s kitchen.

The footage released by Illinois State Police shows the incident from the partner's point of view because Grayson did not turn on his own body camera until after the shooting. Grayson took the stand in his own defense, claiming he thought Massey was threatening him the night he and his partner responded to her. He stated that after asking her to turn off the stove, which was heating a pot of boiling water, he believed she was going to throw the water at him.

Prosecutors emphasized that in the body camera video, Massey does not appear to raise the pot until after Grayson raises his gun, a key distinction. He shoots and kills her moments later. Grayson explained that he didn’t use a taser because he had an older model and Massey was wearing multiple layers of clothing. He didn’t want to risk it malfunctioning.

Before Grayson took the stand, his partner, who responded to Massey’s home with him, testified that he did not see her as a threat before his partner fired his gun. The trial began with jury selection on Monday, where a panel of 12 jurors was seated. The process took more than five hours and ended with a jury made up of nine white women, one Black man, two white men, as well as two white men and one white woman selected as alternate jurors. The trial was moved from Sangamon County to Peoria County due to extensive media publicity.