Sonya Massey was unarmed when she called police for help, which resulted in her being shot to death. Former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson was arrested in connection to her death, and a jury is currently deliberating amid her murder trial.
Life & Style breaks down everything to know about Massey’s death and her murder trial.
What Happened to Sonya Massey?
Massey, a Black woman, called 911 to report a prowler at her home in Springfield, Illinois, in July 2024, according to CBS News. Grayson was among the officers who responded to the call.
While the police were in her home, Massey walked towards a pot of water on the stove. “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” Massey told the officers before they pulled out their weapons and instructed her to drop the pot. Grayson then fired his gun three times and fatally shot Massey.
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Sonya Massey Had a History of Mental Health Issues
Massey struggled with mental health issues before her death, according to CNN. She had admitted herself to a 30-day inpatient mental health program in St. Louis just days before her death, though she returned home two days later without explanation.
County records revealed that three 911 calls were made by Massey or on her behalf in the days leading up to her death. During one call, her mother, Donna Massey, told authorities her daughter was suffering a “mental breakdown.” The mother also told the dispatcher, “I don’t want you guys to hurt her.”
Sean Grayson Was Arrested in Connection to Sonya Massey’s Death
Grayson was arrested on three counts of first-degree murder charges 11 days after Massey’s death and he was fired from the sheriff’s department, per CNN.
In light of his arrest, many concerning details about his past were brought to light and questioned. One concern was that he was ejected from the Army in his 20s for a drunken-driving arrest in which he had a weapon in his car. Additionally, he was convicted of a second DUI within a year of the first arrest.
He also worked four policing jobs in six years before he was hired by the Sangamon department. While there was no indication that Grayson was fired from any of his past jobs, evaluations from past employers revealed concerns about him. According to CNN, one department reported that he worked hard but struggled with report writing.
What Happened During Sonya Massey’s Murder Trial?
Massey’s murder trial began in October, where Grayson took the stand on October 27, 2025, to share his side of the story.
Grayson explained that his body camera wasn’t turned on before he headed into Massey’s home. He said he grew concerned when he arrived at Massey’s home to find a window broken, while it also took her four minutes to answer the door.
“I believed she was possibly under the influence of something,” he claimed, per CBS News, adding that she was “scatterbrained.”
Massey said he turned his camera on as he began to question her, and he testified that he believed she was threatening to throw the boiling pot of water on him before he opened fire.
“I saw the bottom of the pot was turning red, so it seemed very hot,” he said. “Then she picked up the pot and walked towards me. … I wasn’t quite sure what she was going to do.”
Grayson claimed Massey asked him, “Where are you going?” and he said he “took it as a threat.”
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“It raises a lot of concern for me, and I believe she’s going to throw the water. … We were trained to use force that’s going to gain compliance.”
After noting he had a Taser, he said he ultimately shot her because “she was wearing layers and both prongs have to stick in for the Taser to work.”
What Was the Outcome of Sonya Massey’s Murder Trial?
One day after Grayson testified, the jury began deliberations on October 28, 2025. Deliberations lasted for almost 12 hours and the verdict was revealed on October 29, 2025, per NBC News.
Grayson was found guilty and was charged with first-degree murder. However, the jury instructions gave the option to have him convicted of the lesser charge of second-degree murder.
In light of the decision, former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow told NBC News it was a “strategic decision” for the defense to include the second-degree murder charge as an option.
“The prosecution likely felt confident about their case and was willing to go for an all-or-nothing verdict. But the defense did not want to take that chance, so they advocated for a lesser included charge,” he said.
