Sean Grayson sentenced to 20 years nearly two years after Sonya Massey’s killing

Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot Sonya Massey in her home in July 2024, is now serving a 20-year prison sentence following his conviction for second-degree murder.

Massey’s death — which sparked national protests and drew a statement from then-President Joe Biden occurred after she called police to report a possible intruder at her Springfield home. 

Body-camera footage later showed a brief and tense encounter that ended with Grayson shooting the unarmed 36-year-old mother of two in the face.

In October 2025, a jury found Grayson guilty. He was sentenced on Jan. 29, 2026, receiving the maximum penalty allowed under Illinois law. 

During the hearing, Grayson expressed remorse, saying he wished the shooting had never happened.

Grayson had been hired by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in May 2023 and was fired days after the shooting. 

Court records and media reports later revealed a history of misconduct, including prior DUI charges and frequent job changes within law enforcement.

Prosecutors argued that Grayson faced no immediate threat, contradicting his claim that he feared Massey would throw a pot of hot water at him. The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution, citing the body-camera evidence.

Before sentencing, Massey’s mother, Donna Massey, addressed Grayson directly, repeating the words her daughter spoke moments before she was killed: “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”