Sean Grayson, a sheriff's deputy with a troubling history, fatally shot Sonya Massey, an unarmed black woman, in her kitchen after she reported a suspected prowler.
Daily Mail reported that Grayson has been charged with first-degree murder and other offenses following the incident.
Thirty-year-old Sean Grayson was recommended for high-stress decision-making training by the Logan County Sheriff's Office in Illinois after he was involved in a reckless high-speed chase. During this chase, Grayson drove at an alarming speed of 110mph and struck a deer despite his supervisor having called off the pursuit.
Grayson resigned from the Logan County Sheriff's Office in April 2023. He quickly joined the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office in May 2023, a move that has since raised questions about the vetting process at the new department.
On July 6, Sonya Massey, 36, called the police to report a prowler in Springfield, Illinois. Grayson and another Sangamon County deputy responded to the call. After an extensive 30-minute search, the deputies entered Massey's home and saw a pot of boiling water on the stove.
Grayson asked Massey to shut off the stove. Witnesses and bodycam footage reveal that he then threatened to shoot her. As Massey ducked and apologized, Grayson fired three shots, hitting her in the face below her left eye and causing fatal injuries.
Massey suffered a skull fracture, a perforated carotid artery, and a brain bleed. Additionally, she had minor blunt force injuries to her right leg, which further indicates a physical altercation before the shooting.
Following the incident, Grayson was removed from the force. He now faces charges including first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. Held in the county jail, Grayson has entered a not-guilty plea and is currently awaiting trial.
Grayson's troubled past includes a misconduct discharge from the Army, where he served from May 2014 to February 2016. He had DUI charges in August 2015 and July 2016 and worked for six different police agencies over the span of four years, demonstrating a pattern of instability.
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump is representing Massey's family. Crump has publicly questioned why Grayson was ever hired by the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office, given his extensive history of questionable conduct in both the military and law enforcement.
Logan County Sheriff Jack Campbell stressed that Grayson's actions were entirely unacceptable. “It was clear that the deputy did not act as trained or in accordance with our standards,” Sheriff Campbell stated, emphasizing that Grayson's behavior bore no resemblance to the values or training of their office.
In a July 22 follow-up statement, Sheriff Campbell reiterated his disapproval, explaining that Grayson had other possible courses of action that he should have taken. "His actions were inexcusable and do not reflect the values or training of our office. He will now face judgment by the criminal justice system and will never again work in law enforcement. Ms. Massey needlessly lost her life, and her family deserves answers. I trust the legal process will provide them," he concluded.
Deputy Sean Grayson fatally shot unarmed Sonya Massey in her kitchen after she reported a suspected prowler. Grayson, who had a history of reckless behavior and was recommended for specialized training, has been charged with first-degree murder, among other offenses. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump is advocating for Massey's family, while Logan County Sheriff Jack Campbell condemns Grayson's actions as unreflective of proper police conduct.
