Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her home during a 2024 encounter, died Sunday while serving a 20-year prison sentence, his attorney confirmed. Grayson, 32, had been incarcerated for six months at the time of his death, according to multiple reports.
Grayson’s attorney, Daniel Fultz, stated that his client died around noon on August 23, though the cause of death has not been disclosed. Grayson had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, which later progressed to Stage 4, with cancer detected in his liver and lungs. He had sought a medical release under an Illinois law for terminally ill prisoners but was denied by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board in July 2025 in a unanimous vote.
The fatal shooting of Sonya Massey occurred on July 6, 2024, after she called 911 to report a possible prowler outside her Springfield-area home. Grayson, along with another officer, responded to the call. Body camera footage from Grayson’s partner captured the moments leading to the shooting, showing Massey holding a pot of boiling water and uttering, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
According to prosecutors, Grayson threatened to shoot Massey, who apologized and dropped to the floor before he fired three shots, striking her in the face. The body camera footage, which was not fully activated until after Grayson drew his weapon, shows him shouting at Massey to drop the pot before discharging his firearm. Massey, 36, was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Grayson was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in July 2024. In October 2024, a jury convicted him of second-degree murder, a lesser charge than originally filed. He was sentenced to the maximum 20-year prison term in January 2025 by Judge Ryan Cadagin. During sentencing, Grayson asked the Massey family for forgiveness but acknowledged their anger.
Massey, a Black woman and mother of two, became a symbol of protests against police violence following the release of the body camera footage. The incident sparked demonstrations in Illinois, New York City, Chicago, and Atlanta, with many advocates arguing that the second-degree murder conviction was insufficient given the circumstances of the shooting.
Grayson’s legal team had argued for his medical release due to his advanced cancer, but the Illinois Prisoner Review Board rejected the request, citing state guidelines. The board’s decision followed testimony from medical professionals and legal representatives, though no official reasoning was provided publicly.
The Illinois Department of Corrections has not yet commented on the circumstances of Grayson’s death. His case remains a focal point in discussions about police accountability, use-of-force policies, and medical care for incarcerated individuals with terminal illnesses.
Key Dates and Events:
- July 6, 2024: Sonya Massey calls 911 to report a prowler; Grayson and another officer respond.
- July 2024: Body camera footage captures the fatal shooting.
- October 2024: Grayson convicted of second-degree murder.
- January 2025: Sentenced to 20 years in prison.
- July 2025: Illinois Prisoner Review Board denies Grayson’s medical release request.
- August 23, 2025: Grayson dies in prison at age 32.