Sean Grayson, former Illinois deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey, dies in prison, lawyer says
Summary
Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey in her home, died in prison while serving a 20-year sentence. Massey had called 911 about a prowler, and the shooting raised questions about police use of force and officer hiring practices.Key Facts
- Sean Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder for shooting Sonya Massey in July 2024.
- Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, had called 911 about a possible prowler outside her home.
- Body camera footage showed Massey apologizing and crouching before Grayson shot her in the face.
- Grayson was sentenced to 20 years in prison in January 2025 and died there at age 32.
- He had colon cancer that spread to his liver and lungs and was denied medical release.
- The shooting led to protests and national attention on police use of force.
- Illinois passed the Sonya Massey Act to better review police officer hiring records.
- The Justice Department conducted a civil rights investigation and required reforms in Sangamon County’s police training and emergency response.
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