An Illinois jury convicted a former sheriff’s deputy of second-degree murder in the killing of Sonya Massey, who called police in 2024 for a possible prowler. The former deputy, Sean Grayson, could face up to 20 years in prison, The Associated Press reported.
A jury of 10 women and five men found Grayson guilty Wednesday of killing the 36-year-old in her Springfield, Illinois, home in 2024. Massey’s family have said she suffered a mental health crisis that day. Grayson — who worked in the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office until about a week after the shooting — has said he feared she’d assault him with a pot of boiling water.
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Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said in a statement that they felt Grayson should have faced a first-degree murder conviction, but the verdict still gave justice for 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,” they said.
Grayson faced the second-degree murder conviction as opposed to first-degree murder after the jury was given the option to consider the lesser charge, the newswire reported. Second-degree murder, in Illinois, is applicable when a person faces “serious provocation” or believes their action is justified even if the belief is unreasonable.
He could have his sentence cut for good behavior, or avoid prison entirely and be sentenced to probation.
Since the shooting, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, signed legislation concerning disclosures of a law enforcement officer’s job performance. Massey’s family settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Sangamon County officials for $10 million. Massey is survived by her two children.
Grayson shoots Massey in body cam
The Associated Press reported that body camera footage recorded by Deputy Dawson Farley was integral for the prosecution. Farley at the time was a probationary employee.
Dawson didn’t face charges in the shooting.
In the video, the two checked Massey’s home and later let her know they didn’t find anything suspicious. The encounter intensified when the deputies entered her home to get details for police and Grayson noticed a pot of water boiling on the stove. He ordered Massey to remove the pot and she picked the cookware up.
Massey, while holding the pot, asked Grayson why he was backing up, to which he said to avoid the way. Massey then said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
Grayson testified about what he saw was a red-hot pot and believed Massey planned to throw water at him. He and Farley drew their guns because officers are trained to use force to get compliance, he said. He interpreted her comment as a threat to his life and ordered Massey to drop the pot, which started a commotion. Grayson fired his gun three times, striking Massey below her left eye when she appeared to retrieve the cookware.
Farley testified Massey’s actions or statements didn’t cause him to view her as a threat, but did acknowledge during a cross-examination that he initially reported to investigators about fearing for his safety because of the hot water.
Prosecutors took notice of Grayson’s actions following the shooting. Farley used dish towels to put pressure on the wound and as Grayson retrieved his medical kit, Farley said his help wasn’t necessary.
“I’m not even gonna waste my med stuff then,” the AP reported Grayson said while tossing the kit on the floor. Prosecutors said that response signified Grayson’s disregard for public safety.
