Illinois deputy found guilty of second-degree murder of Sonya Massey

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PEORIA, Ill. (WCIA) — The trial for Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff’s deputy accused of killing 36-year-old Sonya Massey, ended with a conviction of second-degree murder.

It’s been one year and three months since Massey called 911 to report that she believed someone was trying to break into her home. Grayson was one of two Sangamon County deputies who responded to the call at 12:50 a.m. on July 6, 2024.

At 1:21 a.m., Grayson reported that shots had been fired, and by 1:47 a.m., just one hour after calling 911, Massey was pronounced dead.

Neither the prosecution nor the defense disputed that Grayson was the one who shot Massey. The prosecution argued that Grayson’s use of force was unjustified and that Massey posed little or no threat. The defense, including attorneys Daniel Fultz and Mark Wykoff, argued that Grayson feared for his life and was acting in self-defense.

Grayson was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, with second-degree murder also an option.

His trial was overseen by Sangamon County Judge Ryan Cadigan, and John Milhiser and Mary Beth Rodgers, State’s Attorney and First Assistant State’s Attorney of Sangamon County, respectively, served as prosecutors. But the trial happened in Peoria County, and the jury consisted of Peoria County residents.

Peoria County’s involvement in the case is the result of a successful motion from Grayson’s lawyers to move the trial out of Sangamon County. They feared that the case’s pretrial publicity could result in a jury biased against Grayson.

Nexstar’s WCIA has been following the case and trial; you can see full coverage here.

Jury selection in the case began on Monday, and on Tuesday, Judge Cadigan granted a motion from the county circuit clerk’s office to dismiss counts of aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.

Massey’s killing raised new questions about U.S. law enforcement shootings of Black people in their homes, and prompted a change in Illinois law requiring fuller transparency on the background of candidates for law enforcement jobs.

Body camera video recorded by the other Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy on the scene that morning, Dawson Farley, was a key part of the prosecution’s case. It showed Massey, who struggled with mental health issues, telling the officers, “Don’t hurt me,” and repeating, “Please God.”

When the deputies entered the house, Grayson saw the pot on the stove and ordered Massey to move it. Massey jumped up to retrieve the pot and she and Grayson joked about how he said he was backing off from the “hot, steaming water.” Massey then replied, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

Both Grayson and Farley drew their pistols and yelled at Massey to put the pot down. Grayson told investigators he thought her “rebuke” meant she intended to kill him and, in the following commotion, fired three shots, striking Massey just below the eye.

Farley, who at the time of the shooting was a probationary employee subject to firing for any reason, testified that Massey didn’t say or do anything that caused him to view her as a threat. But under cross-examination, he acknowledged that he initially reported to investigators that he feared for his safety because of the hot water. Farley did not fire his weapon and was not charged.

Grayson testified in his own defense and was the first witness his attorneys called. He told jurors he noticed the bottom of the pot was red and he believed Massey planned to throw the water at him. He said Massey’s words felt like a threat and that he drew his gun because officers are trained to use force to get compliance.

“She done. You can go get it, but that’s a head shot,” Grayson told Farley after the shooting. “There’s nothing you can do, man.”

Grayson relented moments later and went to get his kit while Farley found dish towels to apply pressure to the head wound. When Grayson returned, Farley told him his help wasn’t necessary, so he threw his kit on the floor and said, “I’m not even gonna waste my med stuff then.”

Prosecutors said that response indicated Grayson’s disregard for public safety, an argument that persuaded Judge Ryan Cadagin to keep Grayson in jail awaiting trial. An Illinois appellate court subsequently ruled that Grayson should be released under the Pre-Trial Fairness Act. An appeal to the state Supreme Court has yet to be decided.

Massey’s death also forced the early retirement of the sheriff who hired Grayson and generated a U.S. Justice Department inquiry. The federal probe was resolved with Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department’s agreement to fortify training, particularly de-escalation practices; develop a program in which mental health professionals can respond to emergency calls; and to generate data on use-of-force incidents.

Massey’s family, with the assistance of civil rights attorney Ben Crump, settled a lawsuit against the county for $10 million and state lawmakers changed Illinois law to require fuller transparency on the background of candidates for law enforcement jobs.

Grayson could be sentenced from four to 20 years, a sentence that could be halved if he behaves behind bars. He could also be sentenced to probation and avoid prison time entirely.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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