A sheriff’s deputy has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey, an African American mother who had reached out to the police for assistance.
On Wednesday, an Illinois court convicted 31-year-old Sean Grayson for the fatal shooting of Massey, which occurred in her Springfield home on July 6, 2024. Grayson fired his weapon at Massey while she was unarmed.
The verdict came after a week-long trial where the jury was presented with the harrowing details of the incident, including graphic body camera footage that captured the tragic event.
The footage revealed Grayson arriving at the scene with his partner, Dawson Farley, in response to a 911 call about a possible intruder.
After searching the yard and finding no signs of an intruder, the deputies proceeded into Massey’s house.
The situation escalated when an officer instructed Massey to remove a pot of water from her stove, leading to a heated exchange.
Massey obliged and told the officer, ‘I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,’ which prompted Grayson to draw his weapon.
Massey was heard pleading with the officers, telling them, ‘Don’t hurt me,’ and ‘Please God.’
Sonya Massey (pictured), 36, was shot and killed by a police officer on July 6, 2024, in her own home after she called 911 for help
Sean Grayson (pictured), 31, has now been convicted by a jury for second-degree murder in Massey’s death
She was then heard telling the officer, ‘Okay, I’m sorry,’ before he shot her three times, with one gunshot to her head.
Farley attempted to help Massey by providing her medical aid. He testified that Grayson discouraged his help, but Farley did it anyway.
‘She done. You can go get it, but that’s a head shot. There’s nothing you can do, man,’ Grayson was heard telling Farley in the footage.
Farley told the court that he didn’t believe Massey was a threat.
Anthony Mayfield, a former department official, said he watched the body camera footage with the sheriff, and the room fell silent.
‘You could hear a pin drop. I think everyone was shocked,’ Mayfield said.
Grayson’s defense team argued that he was concerned Massey would throw the hot water on him, which was why he fired his weapon.
‘In this situation, unfortunately, I matched the threat level,’ he testified.
Grayson testified that he thought Massey was going to throw the water at him, which prompted him to fire his weapon
Massey’s attorneys and family expressed disappointment that Grayson wasn’t convicted of the more serious charge of first-degree murder
The jury watched horrifying footage of Massey getting shot in the head after Grayson asked her to move a pot of hot water on the stove
Grayson said that he had an old taser and thought it would malfunction if he used it instead of his gun.
In the weeks leading up to her death, Massey had struggled with her mental health. Her mother called 911 a day before she was murdered, expressing concern that Massey was having a mental breakdown, according to 911 recordings obtained by the Washington Post.
Massey’s mother told the dispatcher that she was worried police would harm her daughter, and the dispatcher assured her that officers ‘just do their job,’ and that ‘there’s nothing to be fearful of.’
After Massey’s death, information about Grayson’s problematic record came to light, revealing that he had been convicted twice of driving under the influence, had been discharged from the US Army for misconduct, and had been flagged multiple times for impulsive decision-making and filing inaccurate reports from other departments.
Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell resigned amid backlash over hiring Grayson, who was later fired from the force after his indictment.
Massey’s mom, Donna, said after the conviction ‘Anybody who watched the video and thinks that it was partly Sonya’s fault is inhumane’ (Pictured: Donna Massey at a protest on July 12, 2024)
Massey’s death prompted nationwide outrage against racial profiling in the criminal justice system.
After Grayson’s conviction, her family expressed disappointment and anger that he wasn’t found guilty of the more serious charge of first-degree murder.
Massey’s cousin, Sontae Massey, said she was ‘fueled by rage,’ that Grayson was only convicted of second-degree murder, according to the Associated Press.
‘You get an officer that says he’s going to shoot you in the face, and then he shoots you in the face, and you only get second-degree? The justice system did exactly what it’s designed to do today. It’s not meant for us.’
James Wilburn, Massey’s father, added, ‘There’s a difference in this country when you have my skin color and Grayson’s skin color. We need serious justice, not a miscarriage of justice.’
‘Anybody who watched the video and thinks that it was partly Sonya’s fault is inhumane,’ Massey’s mother, Donna Massey, said.
‘And for them not to give him life, and Sonya got life – and death … I can’t wait until he goes to hell.’
Massey’s death prompted nationwide outrage and protests calling for police reform (Pictured: Protesters on the streets of Chicago on July 27, 2024)
Attorneys for the family, notorious civil rights advocate Ben Crump, and Antonio Romanucci said that even though they believed Grayson was deserving of a first-degree conviction, the verdict was ‘still a measure of justice.’
‘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.
‘We will continue to fight for Sonya’s family and for reforms that protect everyone from unlawful use of force.’
The statement added that the family extended gratitude to Sangamon County State’s Attorney John C. Milhiser and his office for handling the case with professionalism, transparency, and compassion.
A statement from the family’s attorneys said the conviction is a step towards accountability (Pictured: Donna Massey outside of the courthouse on October 29, 2025)
Massey’s death prompted a new law in Illinois requiring departments to request personnel files for newly hired deputies (Pictured: Donna Massey holding the bill on August 12, 2025)
‘Prosecuting a police officer is never easy but this team did it with courage and integrity,’ they concluded.
Massey’s case led to the passage of the Sonya Massey Law in Illinois, which prompted police reforms, including a requirement that departments must request personnel files from previous employers when hiring a new deputy.
The measure will take effect in the new year. A civil suit also awarded the Massey family $10 million.
Grayson’s attorney, Daniel Fultz, declined to comment to reporters after the conviction, as did the state’s attorney’s office.
Grayson’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 29. The punishment for second-degree murder is up to 20 years in prison or probation.
