Deputy Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in the Killing of Sonya Massey

What Happened

On July 6, 2024, Sonya Massey called 911 after hearing noises outside her Springfield, Illinois, home. Deputies arrived to find her inside, unarmed.

Body-cam footage showed her holding a pot of boiling water when Deputy Sean Grayson drew his gun and threatened to shoot.

Seconds later, he fired three times, hitting her once in the head.

Prosecutors said Massey posed no credible threat. Even Grayson’s partner testified, “She never did anything that made me think she was a threat.”

The Verdict

Jurors rejected the first-degree murder charge but found Grayson guilty of second-degree murder, meaning the killing was intentional and unjustified, but not premeditated.

He faces 4 to 20 years in prison when sentenced in January 2026.

In plain terms:

The jury saw fear and anger, not intent — but they still saw a crime.

Why It Matters

• Calling 911 should not end in tragedy. The verdict reinforces the expectation that responding officers must de-escalate, not escalate.
• Second-degree doesn’t mean minor. It reflects accountability without proving planning — a recognition that poor judgment with a gun still has consequences.
• Body-cams are changing outcomes. The footage removed ambiguity and gave jurors evidence of what actually happened.

Our Take

This verdict wasn’t about proving malice. It was about proving misuse of power.

Fear is human, but it’s not a legal defense when you carry authority and a badge.

The law doesn’t expect perfection — it expects restraint.

For everyday people, this case reminds us: justice moves slowly, but sometimes, it still arrives.