Ex-deputy Sean Grayson dies months into 20-year sentence for killing Sonya Massey

The former Illinois sheriff’s deputy was serving 20 years for the 2024 killing that sparked national outrage and calls for police reform.

Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey, has died while serving a 20-year prison sentence, according to his attorney.

According to NBC News, Grayson’s attorney confirmed his death Sunday, while noting that it remained unclear whether his cancer caused his death. He had been battling advanced colon cancer, but it was not immediately clear whether the illness was responsible.

Grayson, 32, died on Sunday after spending roughly six months in custody for the July 6, 2024 shooting of Massey, a 36-year-old woman who had called 911 to report a possible prowler outside her home near Springfield, Illinois. Massey’s death drew national attention after body-camera footage of the shooting was released.

Grayson and other deputies had responded to Massey’s emergency call. During the encounter, Massey picked up a pot containing boiling water. Grayson later testified that he interpreted her words and actions as a threat and fired his weapon after pointing it at her.

Massey apologized and moved toward the floor, but Grayson fired three shots, striking her. Prosecutors argued during the trial that the shooting was unjustified, and a jury ultimately convicted him of second-degree murder.

The case prompted widespread protests and renewed scrutiny of police conduct. Illinois lawmakers later enacted the Sonya Massey Act, which tightened background-check requirements for law enforcement applicants.

Sangamon County also agreed to a $10 million settlement with Massey’s family in 2025.

Grayson was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, according to his defense team. By the time of his sentencing in January, his attorneys said the disease had progressed to Stage 4 and spread to his liver, lungs and rectum. An effort to secure his medical release was rejected by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board in July.