Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy convicted in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, died Sunday while serving a 20-year prison sentence. He was 32.
Grayson’s attorney, Daniel Fultz, confirmed his client’s death but did not disclose additional details about the circumstances or location of the death. Grayson had been convicted of second-degree murder in connection with Massey’s July 2024 death.
Sean Grayson Was Serving a 20-Year Sentence
Grayson was convicted in October 2025 after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting of 36-year-old Sonya Massey at her home near Springfield, Illinois.
Massey had contacted 911 to report a possible prowler outside her home. Grayson and another deputy responded to the call. During the encounter inside Massey’s home, Grayson fired his weapon and fatally shot her.
Body-camera footage from the other responding deputy captured the confrontation and the shooting. The incident drew widespread national attention and intensified debate over police use of force and how officers respond to people experiencing difficult or unusual situations.
Grayson had originally faced a first-degree murder charge, but jurors ultimately convicted him of the lesser second-degree murder offense. He was sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, followed by two years of mandatory supervised release.
Grayson Had Sought Medical Release
Before his death, Grayson had been dealing with advanced cancer. Court records and reports indicated that the illness had progressed to other organs, and he sought compassionate or medical release from prison.
The Illinois Prisoner Review Board considered his request but rejected it in July, meaning he remained incarcerated while serving his sentence.
The exact cause of Grayson’s death has not been publicly confirmed. His attorney confirmed the death but did not provide further information.
Sonya Massey’s Death Remains a Nationally Watched Case
Massey’s killing became a major national story after video of the police encounter was released. Her death prompted renewed scrutiny of law-enforcement training, officer decision-making and the use of deadly force.
Attorneys representing Massey’s family acknowledged Grayson’s death while emphasizing that it does not change the loss suffered by Massey’s family. Her death continues to be remembered as a significant case in the broader discussion surrounding policing and accountability.
