Ex-Deputy Sean Grayson Dies in Prison for Sonya Massey Killing

Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey inside her home, died Sunday while serving a 20-year prison term, his attorney confirmed to News Outlet.

Daniel Fultz, who represented Grayson, did not disclose additional information about the circumstances surrounding his client’s death.

Grayson had been dealing with colon cancer before the shooting. During sentencing, his defense team told the court the disease had advanced to his liver and lungs.

In May, Grayson applied for medical release from prison under an Illinois statute that allows consideration for inmates with terminal or severe illnesses. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board rejected that request last month.

Grayson, 32, was found guilty by a jury in October of second-degree murder in Massey’s 2024 death. Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, had called 911 to report a possible prowler outside her home near Springfield.

Body-camera footage made public after the July 6, 2024, shooting showed Massey crouching and apologizing in the moments before Grayson fired three rounds inside the residence. One bullet struck her in the head.

Massey had contacted police shortly before 1 a.m. after noticing what she believed was suspicious activity outside her home, located roughly 200 miles southwest of Chicago. Grayson and another deputy first checked the property, then approached Massey at the front door, where she told them, “Don’t hurt me.”

Inside, video shows Massey appearing confused as deputies questioned her and sought identification to complete a report. As they prepared to leave, Grayson noticed a pot heating on the stove.

“We don’t need a fire while we’re here,” he said.

Prosecutors said Grayson later ordered Massey to move the pot of hot water, threatened to shoot her and then opened fire after she briefly rose from a crouched position.

Grayson’s partner, Dawson Farley, later testified that he did not see Massey as a threat and drew his own gun only after Grayson did.

Grayson was fired after the shooting.

A grand jury initially indicted Grayson on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. He pleaded not guilty before jurors convicted him of the lesser murder charge. A judge later imposed the maximum 20-year prison sentence.

Massey’s killing drew national attention, sparked demonstrations and raised questions about Grayson’s work for several law-enforcement agencies before the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office hired him.

Illinois later passed the Sonya Massey Act, requiring agencies to more closely review an applicant’s prior employment history before hiring an officer.

The Justice Department opened a civil-rights investigation and later reached an agreement with Sangamon County, the sheriff’s office and other local agencies to make changes to policing and emergency response. The agreement included expanded training for calls involving people with behavioral-health disabilities and the creation of a mobile crisis-response program.