Fatal 911 Call: Ex-Illinois Deputy Gets 20 Years for Shooting Unarmed Black Woman in Her Home
An Illinois court has sentenced a former sheriff’s deputy to the maximum 20 years in prison for the fatal shooting of an unarmed Black woman who had called 911 for help, a case that sparked nationwide outrage over police use of force.
According to court records cited by Reuters, Sean Grayson, a former deputy with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, was convicted in October of second-degree murder in the July 2024 killing of Sonya Massey, 36, at her home in Springfield, Illinois.
The incident drew national attention and was widely compared to other high-profile cases involving the excessive use of force by law enforcement officers against Black Americans.
On the night of the shooting, Massey contacted emergency services after noticing a broken window in her home and fearing that an intruder might be inside. Grayson and another deputy responded to the call and entered the residence, where they requested her identification, court testimony showed.
During the encounter, Massey was holding a pot of boiling water, which officers had asked her to check on. Grayson’s lawyers argued that he believed Massey intended to throw the pot at him.
However, First Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Beth Rodgers told the court that Massey had complied with orders to drop the pot and was shot moments later as Grayson cursed at her.
“That bit of unreasonable rage needs to be deterred,” Judge Ryan Cadigan of the 7th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois said while delivering the sentence.
Media reports said Grayson apologised in court to Massey’s family on Thursday, describing his actions that night as “terrible decisions.”
Grayson’s defence counsel, Mark Wykoff, had urged the court to show leniency, noting that his client is battling Stage 3 colon cancer that has since spread.
Separately, Massey’s family had earlier received a $10 million settlement from Sangamon County in connection with her death.
