Nationwide — Sean Grayson, a former sheriff’s deputy from Illinois, was found guilty on Wednesday of second-degree murder in the 2024 killing of 36-year-old Sonya Massey, a Black mother of two who had dialed 911 to report a possible intruder. The verdict came after jurors deliberated for nearly 12 hours, ultimately convicting Grayson of the lesser charge despite his original first-degree murder indictment.
According to NBC News, the tense courtroom erupted in emotion as the verdict was read. Grayson’s family held hands and wept, while outside, crowds of protesters rejoiced and chanted, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” The conviction followed more than a year of public outrage over Massey’s death, which reignited national debate about police violence against Black Americans inside their homes.
Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, who previously secured a $10 million civil settlement for Massey’s family, said they believed Grayson should have been convicted of first-degree murder. Still, they described the verdict as “a measure of justice for Sonya Massey.” Her cousin, Sontae Massey, expressed anger at what she viewed as leniency, saying, “If you get an officer who says he’s going to shoot you in the face, and then he shoots you in the face, and you only get second-degree murder? I’m fueled by rage right now.”
Legal experts noted that the second-degree option likely came from a defense strategy. Former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow explained that while prosecutors may have preferred an “all or nothing” verdict, the defense pushed for the lesser charge to improve their odds. Under Illinois law, Grayson faces four to 20 years in prison but could serve as little as half his sentence with good behavior.
Massey’s father, James Wilburn, said he hopes the judge imposes the maximum penalty. “He showed no remorse,” Wilburn said. “He was so cocky throughout this whole trial—until he was convicted. Yeah, that knocked the smirk off.”
The July 2024 shooting occurred after Massey called 911 from her Springfield home to report a suspected prowler. Body camera footage showed a confrontation in her kitchen, where Grayson fatally shot her after yelling about a pot of boiling water she was holding. The video, widely shared online, sparked protests and renewed scrutiny of police accountability. Grayson, who is white, now awaits sentencing in a case that has once again highlighted the deep racial divides in American law enforcement.