Ex-Sheriff’s Deputy Who Killed Unarmed Woman in 2024 Dies in Prison

Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County, Illinois, sheriff’s deputy convicted of murdering Sonya Massey in 2024, has died in prison, according to his attorney.

Source: cdnph.upi.com

Background on the Incident

Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, called the police on July 6, 2024, to report a prowler outside her home. Grayson, a 32-year-old White deputy, and another officer, Dawson Farley, responded to the call and entered the home.

Grayson claimed that Massey began to act erratically and that he felt threatened by her statement, ‘I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.’ However, Farley testified that he was not afraid of Massey during the encounter and did not take the statement as a threat.

Grayson instructed Massey to remove a pot of hot water from her stove. While doing so, she said to Grayson, ‘I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.’ Grayson wrote in his incident report that he interpreted the statement to mean ‘she was going to kill me.’

Grayson responded to Massey, saying ‘You better not,’ and threatening to shoot her. He then pulled out his firearm and Massey apologized before ducking behind her counter. Grayson approached her and fired three shots at her, one hitting her in the face.

Grayson’s Background and Conviction

Grayson had a troubled past, having worked for six agencies in four years. Prior to joining the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in May 2023, he had been discharged from the U.S. Army for serious misconduct. He also had two DUIs and numerous complaints against him from fellow law enforcement officers and others.

Grayson was found guilty of second-degree murder in October 2024 for fatally shooting Massey, an unarmed Black woman. He was undergoing treatment for Stage 4 colon cancer at the time of his death.

Medical Release Request Rejected

Grayson filed for a medical release due to his colon cancer diagnosis but the Illinois Prisoner Review Board rejected the request last month. He died in prison on Sunday, according to his attorney, Daniel L. Fultz.

Massey was a mother of two and her death has sparked outrage and calls for accountability within law enforcement agencies.