Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting Sonya Massey, a Black woman who had called 911 to report a possible prowler outside her home.
Author Archives: John O’connor
Posted inAfro Briefs
Jurors convict Illinois deputy of killing Sonya Massey but can’t agree on first-degree murder charge
An Illinois jury convicted former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson of second-degree murder in the 2024 shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who had called 911 for help. Grayson, who claimed he feared being scalded with hot water, was acquitted of first-degree murder, angering Massey’s family and supporters who say the verdict shows the justice system’s failure to protect Black lives.