A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two who was fatally shot after reporting a suspected intruder at her home.
Massey was killed on 6 July 2024 near Springfield, Illinois, after calling 911 about a possible prowler. Ex-officer Sean Grayson, 31, said he fired because he believed Massey was about to throw a pot of boiling water on him.
Charges against Sean Grayson
Charged with first-degree murder, Grayson was convicted of the lesser charge of second-degree murder and faces up to 20 years in prison. The case reignited the debate over police brutality in the US.
Massey was Black, and Grayson is White. Prosecutor John Milhiser argued in his closing statement that Grayson had “snapped.”
He said, “These were not the actions of a scared young police officer doing a dangerous job. These are the actions of a bully.”
The incident occurred in the early hours of Independence Day weekend when Massey called police to report a suspected break-in.
Bodycam footage captured the moments leading to her death. Officers followed Massey inside as she searched for her ID.
Bodycam visuals
In the footage, Grayson noticed a pot on a lit stove and said, “We didn’t need a fire while we were there.” Massey, who had previously received treatment for mental health issues, walked over to remove the pot. She and Grayson appeared to laugh over the steaming water before she twice said, “I rebuked you in the name of Jesus.”
Grayson responded aggressively: “You better [expletive] not or I swore to God I’ll [expletive] shoot you in your [expletive] face,” drew his pistol and shouted for her to drop the pot.
Massey replied, “OK, I’m sorry,” and ducked. Grayson fired three shots, striking her in the face. Afterwards, he said: “What else did we do? I wasn’t taking hot [expletive] boiling water to the [expletive] face.” When another officer went for a medical kit, Grayson added: “She’s done. You could go get it, but that was a head shot.”
Grayson was fired and took the stand in his own defense, claiming the pot was red on the bottom and he believed Massey posed a threat. The jury deliberated for about 11 hours before returning the guilty verdict.
Personal injury lawyer Ben Crump, representing Massey’s family, called the verdict “a measure of justice” but noted he had hoped for a first-degree murder conviction.
“Accountability has begun, and we now hope the court will impose a meaningful sentence that reflects the severity of these crimes and the life that was lost,” he said.
Grayson’s sentencing is scheduled for 29 January. Earlier, Sangamon County awarded Massey’s family a $10 million settlement.
Who was Sonya Massey?
Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old African American woman and mother of two, was shot and killed in her own home in Springfield, Illinois, on July 6, 2024. She had called 911 to report a possible intruder. When deputies arrived, they did not find anyone outside, so they went inside and asked Massey for her ID.
While looking for her ID, Massey picked up a pot of boiling water and reportedly said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Deputy Sean Grayson told her to drop the pot and then shot her three times, killing her. She had dropped to the floor and apologised before the shooting. Witnesses said she was unarmed and not threatening at the time.