Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy convicted of murdering Sonya Massey in her home in 2024, died Sunday. Attorney Daniel L. Fultz, who served as Grayson’s attorney, confirmed the news Sunday. Grayson had been battling stage 4 colon cancer, for which he was undergoing treatment. It is unclear if that was the cause of death. Grayson, 32, was convicted last October of second-degree murder for shooting Sonya Massey and was serving a 20-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections, which would be followed by two years of mandatory supervised release. Last month, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board denied Grayson’s request for medical release and ordered him to remain in prison, even though the request cited advanced colon cancer. CBS News Chicago reached out to the Department of Corrections but has not yet heard back. What happened in the Sonya Massey shooting? In July 2024, Massey, 36, called police for help about a possible prowler outside his home. Grayson, along with another officer, went to her home and spoke with her. While inside the home, Grayson said Massey began acting erratically and said he reprimanded him “in the name of Jesus” as he walked toward a pot of water on his stove. Body camera video from Grayson’s partner captured the moment he shot Massey, who died from a gunshot wound. Grayson’s body camera was not activated for most of the call, only turning on shortly after he drew his gun. In the body camera video, as Massey holds the pot of water, Grayson is heard saying, “You better not do it. I swear to God, I’m going to shoot you right in your face.” He then raises his gun and yells at Massey to “drop the damn pot!” Massey apologizes and ducks for cover, at which point Grayson shoots him, according to prosecutors. Three gunshots are heard in the video. Grayson’s former partner, Dawson Farley, testified during the trial that he was not afraid of Massey during the call, but rather he was afraid of Grayson. Farley told the jury that while he was confused after Massey said “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” he never perceived it as a threat. He added that he only drew his gun because Grayson did. More from CBS News at:
