
Former Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson seeks medical release
Grayson has served less than six months of a 20-year sentence for the murder of Sonya Massey.

Grayson has served less than six months of a 20-year sentence for the murder of Sonya Massey.

The white former deputy killed Massey, who was Black, on July 6, 2024. The 36-year-old single mother had called the police saying she feared there was a prowler outside her Springfield home. Grayson shot her in the face.

Sontae Massey, Sonya’s cousin, served on the commission and told the Sangamon County Board this week that the steps laid out in their report aren’t just recommendations.

The report summarizes the Commission’s public hearings, listening sessions, and research.

Defense says judge should have barred video of minutes following Sonya Massey’s shooting.

An Illinois jury has convicted a sheriff’s deputy of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who called 911 to report a suspected prowler. The jury announced the verdict against Sean Grayson on Wednesday.

Sean Grayson arrived at Sonya Massey’s home in Springfield after she reported seeing a prowler early on July 6, 2024. At the time of the shooting, Massey was holding a pan of hot water.

The jury received the case at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday following closing arguments in the trial of 31-year-old Sean Grayson. Grayson responded to Sonya Massey’s home in Springfield in July 2024 after her call about a prowler.

Former downstate police officer Sean Grayson told the jury that Massey’s vow to “rebuke him in the name of Jesus” led him to shoot her. His testimony drew scoffs from Massey’s mother.

Testimony resumes Monday in the trial of Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot Sonya Massey.

Sean Grayson is accused of unlawfully using deadly force in the shooting of Sonya Massey last year.

The trial was moved to Peoria because of publicity. Testimony likely will feature a competition of experts on police training and expected practices and justified use of force by police.

Grayson was charged with first-degree murder after shooting Sonya Massey, 36, in her kitchen after she called to report a prowler outside her home southeast of Springfield in 2024.

Deputy accused of Sangamon County woman’s murder had troubling past.

Friends, family and members of the community gathered in Springfield Sunday to remember Sonya Massey, who was shot and killed by a Sangamon County deputy in her unincorporated Springfield home a year ago.