Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot Sonya Massey in her home in 2024, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday.
Grayson was found guilty of second-degree murder in October 2025.
Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, called 911 from her home in Springfield, Ill., on July 6, 2024. She thought there was an intruder in her home. Grayson and another deputy responded to the call. Grayson shot Massey after he questioned how she was handling a pot of hot water from the stove. After the fatal shooting, Grayson was fired by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office.
During today’s hearing, Grayson reportedly addressed the court before Seventh Judicial Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin read the sentence:
“There are no words I can say to take back what the family is feeling I understand why they are angry,” Grayson said. “I just hope one day they can be forgiving. I was very unprofessional that night and the things I said to Sonya Massey were not right.”
Grayson will also have a two-year mandatory supervised release and will receive credit for the days he’s been in jail.
He was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. The jury had the option to find Grayson guilty of first or second-degree murder, or not guilty of either. He pleaded not guilty to all three counts. His lawyer said he was acting in self-defense because he thought Massey was going to throw the pot of water at him.
In 2025, the family of Sonya Massey and their attorneys, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, announced a $10 million settlement in their lawsuit against the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department and Sangamon County.
In the aftermath of Massey’s death, Illinois State Sen. Doris Turner (D-48) and Illinois State Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-27) introduced legislation aimed at strengthening background checks and increasing transparency in law enforcement hiring.
Grayson had worked for six different law enforcement agencies in Illinois over four years despite a history of misconduct and convictions for driving under the influence, among other violations.
