Ex-deputy Sean Grayson dies serving 20-year prison term for Sonya Massey killing after medical release denied
Former Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson died Sunday while serving a 20-year prison sentence for fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her home, his attorney confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Grayson’s attorney, Daniel Fultz, did not provide further details about his client’s death.
Before the shooting, Grayson was battling colon cancer. At sentencing, his attorneys said the cancer had spread to his liver and lungs.
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In May, Grayson sought medical release from prison under an Illinois law for inmates with terminal or serious illnesses. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board denied the request last month.
A jury convicted Grayson, 32, in October of second-degree murder in the 2024 shooting death of Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who had called 911 to report a possible prowler outside her Springfield-area home.
Body-camera video released after the July 6, 2024, shooting showed Massey ducking and apologizing moments before Grayson fired three shots inside the home. One struck her in the head.
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Massey called police shortly before 1 a.m. to report what she believed was suspicious activity outside the home, about 200 miles southwest of Chicago. Grayson and another deputy walked around the property before speaking with Massey at the front door, where she told them, "Don’t hurt me."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.