Sean Grayson, ex-deputy convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey, dies, attorney says

Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her home in 2024 after she called 911 to report a prowler, has died, his attorney said Sunday.

Daniel Fultz, the attorney who represented Grayson during his murder trial, said he died around noon. He was six months into his 20-year sentence for second-degree murder.

The former deputy, 32 was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, another defense attorney, Mark Wykoff, had said at his sentencing in January. In July, he was denied medical release by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.

It was not immediately clear if cancer is what caused Grayson’s death.

Grayson shot Massey, 36, after responding to her 911 call in 2024. The shooting was captured on body camera video and set off protests and calls for justice.

Grayson was convicted in 2025.

During the 911 response, Massey picked up a pot of boiling water from her stove, prompting Grayson to back away, according to court testimony.

Grayson testified that he believed Massey was going to throw the boiling water on him after she said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” When Grayson looked confused, Massey repeated the sentence.

Grayson threatened to shoot Massey, and she apologized and dropped to the floor, but he fired three times, striking her, according to prosecutors.

He declined to offer medical care, Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said in court.