Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, was convicted Wednesday of second-degree murder in the 2024 death of Sonya Massey, a Black mom of two who called 911 seeking help, only to be killed an hour later.
Per NBC News, Grayson, 31, was charged with first-degree murder, but jury instructions included the option to convict him of the lesser charge of second-degree murder.
The outcome, while a conviction, indicates that the jury found Grayson intended to cause harm to Massey, but also determined there was no premeditation in her death.
The defense had argued that what happened was a tragedy but not a crime, focusing on the justification of deadly force in the moment. The prosecution, while pushing for first-degree, offered second-degree as an option.
The original 911 call
Grayson and another deputy answered Massey’s emergency call reporting a prowler outside the 36-year-old woman’s home early on the morning of July 6, 2024. They entered the house and, spotting a pan of hot water on the stove, Grayson ordered it removed, according to the other deputy’s body camera video, which was key evidence.
When deputies arrived, body camera footage showed Massey expressing fear that the officers might harm her, but Grayson dismissed her concern, implying it was unreasonable for her to think that way.
Grayson and Massey joked about how Grayson moved away as Massey moved the hot pan. Then, Massey said, “ I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” Grayson yelled at her to drop the pot and threatened to shoot her. Massey apologized and ducked behind a counter.
“I interpreted this to mean she was going to kill me,” Grayson wrote in the report, adding that when he drew his pistol and Massey ducked behind a counter that separated them, he moved around the obstacle fearing that she was going to grab a weapon.
In the ensuing confusion and continued yelling from Grayson, it appears Massey picked up the pot again. Grayson fired three times, hitting Massey once just below her left eye.
New Legislation
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.