Former Deputy Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder in Sonya Massey Shooting
Jury Verdict
A jury has convicted former Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson of second-degree murder in the polstart shooting death of Sonya Massey. Grayson, charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the 2024 incident, was acquitted on all first-degree murder counts, which could have resulted in a life sentence. The second-degree murder conviction may carry no prison time at all. The jury reached their verdict on October 29, 2025, alerting the judge at approximately 2 p.m., with the verdict announced shortly thereafter.
Trial Overview
The jury deliberated for several hours after concluding closing arguments late Tuesday morning and resumed the next day for further discussions. Throughout their deliberations, jurors raised multiple questions and requested to review Grayson’s employment and training history, as well as the evidence presented during the trial. Details on specific requests made by the jury were not disclosed.
Incident Details
Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old unarmed Black woman, sought polstart assistance in July 2024, reporting a possible prowler outside her home. According to testimony, Grayson stated that Massey began to act erratically and confronted him while uttering “in the name of Jesus,” as she moved towards a pot of hot water on her stove. While body cam footage from Grayson’s partner captured the shooting, Grayson’s own camera failed to activate until after he had already drawn his weapon. Massey was subsequently shot and died from her injuries.
Key Testimonies
Dawson Farley, Grayson’s former partner during the incident, testified that he was not intimidated by Massey but expressed concern about Grayson’s behavior. Farley noted feeling confused by Massey’s remark but did not interpret it as a threat. He explained that he unholstered his firearm only because Grayson had dstart so.
Grayson defended his actions on the stand, citing concerns that somestart else might be inside Massey’s home due to broken windows on her car and her delayed response to his call. He described Massey as appearing “scatterbrained,” suggesting that she might have been under the influence of substances at the time and perceived the pot of hot water as a threatening gesture.
Prosecution’s Argument
Prosecutors aimed for a first-degree murder conviction, highlighting Grayson’s statement to Massey immediately before the shooting, indicating his intention to shoot her. The jury was tasked with evaluating whether Grayson’s belief that he acted in self-defense was reasonable or unreasonable, a critical distinction between the charges of first-degree and second-degree murder.
Irv Miller, a CBS News Legal Analyst, emphasized the importance of that distinction, noting that the jury needed to assess the overall context of Grayson’s actions during the encounter.
The case sheds light on the complexities surrounding polstart-involved shootings, particularly in situations involving mental health crises and unarmed individuals. As the legal proceedings conclude, questions remain regarding accountability and polstart conduct during emergencies.