Former Ill. Deputy Gets 20 Years in Prison for Killing Sonya Massey, Mom of 2 Who Called 911 for Help By KC Baker 11

The Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted in the killing of Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman who was shot after calling 911 because she thought someone was prowling around her house, has learned his fate.

On Thursday, Jan. 29, Sean Grayson, 31, who is White, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, The New York Times reports.

He was convicted of second-degree murder on Oct. 29, 2025, the Associated Press and NBC News reported. His sentence was the maximum allowed in Illinois for second-degree murder, according to the Times.

The shooting led to protests in Illinois and around the country, with people calling for justice for Massey, a single mother of two, as well as police reforms.

The shooting took place on July 6, 2024, when Grayson and another deputy with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office responded at 12:50 a.m. to a 911 call from Massey at her home in Springfield.

After searching the front and back yards of her home, they knocked on her door, according to body camera footage previously obtained by The New York Times and shown in court.

She greeted the deputies by repeating, “Please God” and then when they were inside the house, she asked Grayson to pass her a Bible, the AP reports.

Massey sat down on a couch and then got up to remove a pot of hot water from the stove.

At first, she and Grayson appeared to have what seemed like an amiable conversation about the water, the video shows.

The conversation took an unexpected turn when Massey said “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus” twice while holding the pot of water.

“You better not or I will shoot you in the f—ing face,” Grayson told her.

When Grayson drew his gun, Massey said, “OK, I’m sorry,” and ducked behind the counter.

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Grayson yelled “drop the f—ing pot,” as the second officer in the video can be seen walking toward the counter with his gun drawn.

It is unclear what is going on behind the counter, but moments later Grayson fired three shots, with one striking Massey in the face.

Grayson immediately took out his radio and yelled “Shots fired!” and reported that a woman was suffering from a gunshot wound to her head. 

Massey was later pronounced dead at St. John’s Hospital.

The day before the shooting, Massey’s mother, Donna Massey, called 911 and said that Sonya had been having mental health issues and asked them not to send “combative” police officers, the Times reports.

Grayson explained his point of view in a report he wrote three days after the shooting, writing, “Sonya turned to face me holding the pot. I did not know the type of liquid that was boiling,” the AP reports.

“I advised Sonya to put the boiling liquid down. Sonya stated (she) was going to rebuke me in the name of Jesus. She stated this twice. I interpreted this to mean she was going to kill me.”

“As I approached the cabinet, Sonya stood up from a crouched position, grabbing the pot, raising it above her head and throwing the boiling substance at me,” Grayson wrote. “I was in imminent fear of getting boiling liquid to my face or chest, which would have caused great bodily harm or death.”

During closing arguments on Oct. 27, Grayson’s attorney Daniel Fultz argued Grayson was legally justified in pulling the trigger, saying Grayson “drew his weapon to gain compliance, to make her realize that whatever she was considering doing, she shouldn’t do,” CNN reported.

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Prosecutor Mary Beth Rodgers told the jury Massey was having an emotional crisis at the time but that’s not why she was killed: “It’s because (Grayson) snapped,” NBC 5 Chicago reported.

“’I’m sorry.’ That is the last thing Sonya Massey said before the defendant murdered her,” Rodgers added during closing arguments, per the outlet.

Before the sentence was read, Donna Massey addressed Grayson directly, saying “Sean Grayson, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” she said, the Times reports.

She told him she has recurring nightmares and will always be afraid to call the police, per the Times.

Grayson also spoke, saying, “I made a lot of mistakes that night,” Grayson said, the Times reports.

“I’m sorry. I wish there was something I could do to bring her back. I wish this would never have happened.”