Sean Grayson was serving a 20-year sentence after his conviction in the 2024 shooting; he had sought early medical release for advanced cancer.
Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy convicted of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, has died in prison at the age of 32, his attorney confirmed.
Grayson died Sunday while serving a 20-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Attorney Daniel Fultz confirmed the death but declined to provide further details, including the exact cause. Grayson had been diagnosed with colon cancer prior to the 2024 shooting; by the time of his sentencing, the disease had progressed to Stage 4 and spread to his liver and lungs.
In May, only months into his sentence, Grayson applied for medical release under Illinois law for inmates with terminal illnesses. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board unanimously denied the request in July.
Grayson was convicted in October 2025 of second-degree murder and sentenced in January 2026 to the maximum 20 years. The conviction stemmed from the July 6, 2024, incident in which Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two, called 911 to report a possible prowler outside her Springfield-area home.
Body camera footage released by Illinois State Police captured the encounter. Deputies responded, searched the area, and spoke with Massey inside her home. The situation escalated when Massey handled a pot of hot water on the stove. She said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson responded with a threat to shoot her in the face, drew his firearm, ordered her to drop the pot, and fired multiple times, striking her in the face. Massey can be heard apologizing and is seen ducking moments before the shots.
Grayson’s body camera was not activated until after the shooting. Prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder counts that were later reduced by the jury to second-degree murder, a charge that applies when a defendant honestly but unreasonably believed deadly force was necessary.
Massey’s family attorneys issued a statement following Grayson’s death: “Sonya Massey’s death was unjustifiable, and she should be alive today. Sean Grayson’s death in custody from cancer does not bring Sonya back.”
The case drew national attention, prompted reforms at the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, and led to Grayson’s termination shortly after the shooting. He remained in custody from the time of his arrest through sentencing and imprisonment until his death.
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