Former Illinois sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson, convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her home in 2024, has died at the age of 32, according to his attorney Daniel Fultz. Grayson was six months into serving a 20-year sentence for second-degree murder and had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer that had progressed to Stage 4 and spread to other parts of his body. The cause of death is not immediately clear. Grayson's case led to the passage of the Sonya Massey Act, which requires stricter background checks for law enforcement hires, and a $10 million settlement to Massey's family was agreed upon by Sangamon County officials in 2025.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-24,
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Story summary
Sean Grayson, a 32-year-old former Illinois sheriff's deputy, has died while serving his 20-year sentence for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman. Massey was shot by Grayson in her home in Sangamon County, Illinois after she called 911 to report a prowler on July 6, 2024. The incident was captured on body camera video and sparked protests and calls for justice. Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder last year and had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, which progressed to Stage 4 and spread to his liver, lungs, and rectum.
Grayson's death has left Massey's family feeling robbed of "true justice." Her cousin, Sontae Massey, said that the family was not notified directly about Grayson's death and had to read about it online. The family believes that Grayson should have served his full sentence, even if he was ill. In a statement, Sontae Massey said, "It doesn't feel like justice to me... Sonya should still be here. That is the loss we are still living with."
Written for “Ex-Deputy's Prison Death Sentence” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 1907 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-28
Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her home in 2024 after she called 911 to report a prowler, has died, his attorney said Sunday.
asserted
attorney → convict → prowler
Daniel Fultz, the attorney who represented Grayson during his murder trial, said he died around noon.
asserted
he → represent → noon
Grayson, 32, was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, and it had progressed to Stage 4 and spread to his liver, lungs and rectum, another defense attorney, Mark Wykoff, said at his sentencing in January.
asserted
attorney → diagnose → January
In July, he was denied medical release by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.
asserted
he → deny → Board
It was not immediately clear whether cancer is what caused Grayson’s death.
asserted
what → cause → death
Grayson shot Massey, 36, after he responded to her 911 call shortly before 1 a.m. July 6, 2024.
asserted
he → shoot → July
The shooting, which was captured on body camera video, set off protests and calls for justice.
asserted
which → capture → justice
Grayson was convicted last year.
asserted
Grayson → convict → ?
During the 911 response, Massey picked up a pot of boiling water from her stove, prompting Grayson to back away, according to court testimony.
uncertain
Massey → pick → testimony
Grayson testified that he believed Massey was going to throw the boiling water on him after she said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
asserted
I → testify → Jesus
When Grayson looked confused, Massey repeated the sentence.
asserted
Massey → look → sentence
He testified that he took the remark as a threat.
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he → testify → threat
Grayson pointed his gun at Massey and threatened to shoot her, according to body camera video.
uncertain
Grayson → point → video
She apologized and dropped to the floor, but he fired three times, striking her.
asserted
he → apologize → her
Grayson declined to offer medical care, Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said in court.
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Milhiser → decline → court
Massey was pronounced dead at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
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Massey → pronounce → Springfield
First Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Beth Rodgers said in court: “‘I’m sorry.’
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I → say → court
That is the last thing Sonya Massey said before the defendant murdered her, just like he said he would.”
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he → say → her
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Sonya Massey Act, a law requiring stricter background checks for law enforcement hires, and it went into effect at the beginning of the year.
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it → sign → year
Sangamon County officials agreed in early 2025 to pay a $10 million settlement to Massey’s family.
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officials → agree → family
