US news | The Guardian
· collected 2026-08-26 · by Ramon Antonio Vargas
Sonya Massey's cousin, Sontae Massey, has spoken out after the death of former Illinois sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson, who was convicted of murdering her in 2024. The killing occurred when Grayson, then 28, shot Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, three times while responding to a prowler call at her home. Grayson died six months into his 20-year prison sentence for second-degree murder, which he was serving after being diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. Sontae Massey said in a statement that Grayson's death "doesn't feel like justice" and that it doesn't bring back Sonya Massey or provide accountability to her family.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 2577 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
The death in prison of the former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of murder after fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her home “doesn’t feel like justice to me”, a cousin of the woman has said in an emotional statement.
asserted
cousin → convict → statement
“It doesn’t give Sonya back her life or return her back to her [two] children”, who were aged 15 and 17 at the time of the killing, Sontae Massey wrote in the statement on Monday.
asserted
Massey → give → Monday
Referring to Sonya Massey’s mother, the statement continued: “It doesn’t give my aunt back her daughter.
asserted
It → refer → daughter
And it doesn’t give our family the accountability were still waiting for …
asserted
it → give → accountability
That is the loss we are still living with.”
asserted
we → live → ?
Sontae Massey’s statement provided a notable reaction to the death of the former Sangamon county deputy Sean Grayson, which was announced on Sunday by his attorney, Daniel Fultz.
Grayson, 32, was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in 2023.
asserted
Grayson → provide → 2023
The cancer had spread to his liver and lungs, according to his legal team, by the time of his sentencing in January, when he was given 20 years’ imprisonment for a second-degree murder conviction in connection with Massey’s killing.
uncertain
he → spread → killing
The Illinois prison review board in late July had denied Grayson a medical release that he requested.
asserted
he → deny → that
At that proceeding, Sontae Massey spoke in opposition to the former deputy’s request, saying: “I’m not sure that I can write, speak or articulate anything that can encompass the devastation that Sean Grayson has created for our family.”
asserted
Grayson → speak → family
Grayson, who was white, shot Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, to death amid a 6 July 2024 encounter that was captured on body-worn camera video.
asserted
that → shoot → video
The footage showed Grayson and another deputy enter Massey’s home in Springfield, Illinois, to investigate reports of a prowler that she had called in herself.
asserted
she → show → that
At one point, 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 later testified that he feared Massey would throw the boiling water on him after she twice said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
asserted
I → testify → Jesus
He said he interpreted the remark to be a threat.
asserted
he → say → remark
The body camera video showed Grayson then pointing his gun at Massey and threatening to shoot her.
asserted
Grayson → show → her
On the video, she apologized and dropped to the floor – but he fired three times, striking her in the face and killing her.
asserted
he → apologize → her
Jurors presiding over Grayson’s trial heard, among other things, that he declined to offer her first aid.
asserted
he → preside → aid
The case prompted anti-racism protests and a federal justice department review.
asserted
case → prompt → protests
And the Illinois governor, JB Pritzker, signed the Sonya Massey Act, a law requiring stricter background checks for policing hires.
asserted
governor → sign → hires
Sangamon county officials also agreed in early 2025 to a $10m settlement for Massey’s family.
asserted
officials → agree → family
In his statement after Grayson’s death, Sontae Massey wrote that his family had “been asked to carry more than most people can imagine today”, particularly Sonya’s mother, Donna.
asserted
people → write → more
And Grayson’s death just six months into his sentence meant that “Aunt Donna … [is] being asked to absorb something else connected to the loss of her daughter”, Sontae Massey’s statement said.
asserted
statement → mean → daughter
“I’ll be clear about this for myself, too,” he added.
asserted
he → add → myself
“I’m angry.”
asserted
I → ’m → ?
