An Illinois jury has found former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who called 911 to report a suspected prowler. The verdict, delivered Wednesday (October 29) in a Peoria courtroom, fell short of the first-degree murder charge prosecutors sought. WBAL reports that Grayson now faces up to 20 years in prison or possible probation, with sentencing set for January 29.

Massey’s killing occurred on July 6, 2024, when Grayson and another deputy, Dawson Farley, responded to her Springfield home. Body camera footage captured the moments before the shooting: Massey, visibly anxious, warned officers not to harm her and repeated, “Please God.” Grayson ordered her to move a pot of boiling water from the stove, and after she said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” he fired three rounds.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that Grayson’s actions were unjustified and that Massey posed no threat. Farley testified that he never viewed her as dangerous, though under cross-examination he admitted initially fearing for his safety. Grayson’s defense maintained he believed Massey planned to scald him, claiming he fired out of fear.

Massey’s father, James Wilburn, called it a “miscarriage of justice,” while civil rights leader Teresa Haley said, “She called for help and was murdered in her own home. Second-degree murder is not justice.” Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, who represent the family, said that while they believed Grayson deserved a first-degree conviction, the decision was still “a measure of justice for Sonya Massey.”

Massey’s death reverberated beyond Springfield, intensifying national conversations about police violence in private residences. The tragedy prompted Illinois lawmakers to strengthen transparency laws requiring agencies to disclose disciplinary records of police job applicants. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department also agreed to federal oversight measures, including improved de-escalation training and programs that involve mental health professionals in emergency calls.

Earlier this year, the county reached a $10 million settlement with Massey’s family. The case also led to the early retirement of the sheriff who hired Grayson and drew a civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Grayson, who is white, was terminated shortly after the shooting. His disciplinary history included two prior DUI convictions and an Army discharge for serious misconduct.