Woman Killed After Calling 911 — Former Deputy Found Guilty of Murder.

Sonya Massey’s killer has officially been found guilty of her murder, just over a year after he shot and killed her.
Former Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder following a trial that lasted a little more than a week. The jury began deliberations Tuesday morning and returned its verdict Wednesday afternoon.

As a reminder, Grayson was arrested in July 2024 after fatally shooting Massey, who had called 911 to report a possible prowler. Disturbing body camera footage released after the incident showed the encounter escalating tragically when Massey turned off a stove burner and moved a pot of boiling water to the sink.

With another deputy present, Grayson appeared to lose his composure, repeatedly ordering Massey to put down the pot before stepping around the counter and shooting her. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office later fired Grayson, who claimed he acted out of fear that Massey intended to throw the boiling water at him.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represented Massey’s family, told us that he and Sonya’s father, James Wilburn, rejected Grayson’s explanation after viewing the body camera footage. The family ultimately reached a $10 million civil settlement related to her death.