Trial Begins for Illinois Deputy Charged with Murder of Sonya Massey

Sat Oct 25 2025 17:05:43 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Sean Grayson, an Illinois sheriff's deputy, faces three counts of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey, who had called 911 for assistance. Prosecutors claim Grayson acted without justification, while the defense argues his actions were reasonable given the circumstances.

The murder trial of former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson has commenced in Peoria, Illinois, where he is facing three counts of first-degree murder for the shooting of 36-year-old Sonya Massey. The incident occurred on July 6, 2024, after Massey called 911 seeking help regarding a suspected prowler. Prosecutors contend that body camera footage will demonstrate that Massey posed no threat at the time of the shooting, while the defense insists that Grayson reacted appropriately under the circumstances. The case has reignited discussions about police accountability and the treatment of individuals in mental health crises.

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois sheriff’s deputy who killed Sonya Massey in her Springfield home last year eschewed his training and the principles of policing when he shot the Black woman who had called 911 for help, a prosecutor said Wednesday in Sean Grayson’s murder trial.

Grayson, who is white, faces three counts of first-degree murder for shooting the 36-year-old single mother on July 6, 2024, during a confrontation over her handling of a pot of hot water she removed from her stove.

Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser told the jury of eight women and four men in Peoria, where the trial was moved due to national attention, that body camera video will show Massey posed no threat when Grayson and another Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy, Dawson Farley, entered her home. Massey, who had mental health problems, had called 911 about a suspected prowler.

“She’s a little scattered but she’s nice and kind and talking to him and you’ll see that interaction,” Milhiser said. “You will see what happens when the defendant gets mad at a woman who is in her kitchen and has called for help. He gets mad and shoots and kills her without lawful justification.”

“He did not follow his training. He did not follow police principles,” Milhiser added.

However, Grayson’s attorney, Daniel Fultz, implored the jury not to rush to judgment. Fultz asserted that when Massey approached with the pan of water, Grayson yelled for her to put it down before he made “a decision no police officer wants to make.”

“Ms. Massey lifted the pot of water above her head and the evidence will show that the use of force was reasonable under the circumstances without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight,” Fultz stated. “What happened to Ms. Massey was a tragedy, but it was not a crime.”

The killing has sparked ongoing questions about U.S. law enforcement shootings of Black people in their homes and has led to a change in Illinois law requiring fuller transparency regarding the backgrounds of candidates for police jobs.

If convicted of murder, Grayson, 31, faces 45 years to life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors dismissed counts of aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.

Grayson and Farley responded to Massey's home under the assumption they had found no suspicious activity when Grayson noticed the pan on the stove and ordered its removal.

Body camera footage, which is expected to be central to the trial, captures an interaction between Grayson and Massey where they even joked about the situation before the tragic outcome unfolded. Grayson claimed later that he perceived Massey’s words, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” as a threat.

Additionally, Farley is scheduled to testify in the trial, along with other potential witnesses, including experts in police training and acceptable use of force standards.