On July 6, 2024, 36-year-old Sonya Massey, a Black woman and mother of two called 911 fearing a prowler at her home in Springfield, Illinois. Two deputies from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office arrived; among them was 31-year-old deputy Sean Grayson.
While inside her home, Massey picked up a pot of hot water from the stove. Body-cam footage shows her quietly saying “Don’t hurt me… Please God.” She then told the deputies, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” which Grayson claimed signalled a threat reported. Moments later, Grayson drew his gun and fired three times striking her just below the eye.
Today, October 29, 2025, a jury in Peoria, Illinois found Grayson guilty of second-degree murder in connection with Massey’s death. He had been charged originally with first-degree murder, which carries a sentence of 45 years to life. Under the lesser conviction, Grayson faces up to 20 years in prison or probation.
The county agreed to a $10 million settlement with Massey’s family, and Illinois lawmakers passed broader transparency requirements for law enforcement hiring.
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