SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (FN) — A former sheriff’s deputy in Illinois was convicted Wednesday of second-degree murder in the 2024 shooting death of Sonya Massey, a woman who had called 911 to report a possible prowler.
Sean Grayson, who was fired from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office following the incident, was found guilty after a weeklong trial. Jurors deliberated for two days before returning the verdict.
Massey, 36, was shot in her home on July 6, 2024, after she reportedly turned off a stove burner and moved a pot of boiling water to the sink. Body camera footage released after the shooting showed Grayson repeatedly ordering her to drop the pot before stepping around the counter and firing his weapon. Another deputy was present during the encounter.
Grayson claimed he feared Massey intended to throw the boiling water at him. The footage, however, drew widespread criticism and prompted calls for accountability.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represented Massey’s family, said the video contradicted Grayson’s defense. “There was no justification for what happened,” Crump said. “Sonya Massey should be alive today.”
Massey’s father, James Wilburn, also rejected the explanation. “My daughter called for help, and instead she was killed,” Wilburn said. “No parent should have to endure this.”
The family later reached a 10 million Dollars civil settlement with Sangamon County in connection to Massey’s death.
Grayson faces between four and 20 years in prison under Illinois law. Sentencing is expected in the coming weeks.
