Former Ill. Deputy Convicted in Sonya Massey Fatal Shooting Dies

Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey during a call, died while serving a 20-year prison sentence months after being denied a medical release request.

Aug. 24, 2026

2 min read

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Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff's deputy convicted of in the fatal shooting Sonya Massey, died Sunday at 32, according to one of his attorneys.
Grayson had been serving a 20-year prison sentence for second-degree murder and was recently denied a medical release request despite being diagnosed with terminal colon cancer that had spread to his liver.
Massey's 2024 fatal shooting inside her Illinois home sparked national attention, led to Grayson's firing and the sheriff's resignation, and resulted in a $10 million settlement for Massey's family.

By Adriana Pérez

Source Chicago Tribune

Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy who was convicted and sentenced for murdering Sonya Massey inside her home, died on Sunday, his attorney said. He was 32.

His lawyers had said he was diagnosed with colon cancer a few years ago, which later spread to his liver. Just last month, Grayson was denied medical release from prison after an emotional hearing before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.

Grayson had applied for release in May under a state law for individuals in custody “suffering from a terminal illness or medical incapacitation.” A medical evaluation found that his condition is “irreversible and incurable,” according to documents first obtained by Capitol News Illinois.

Daniel Fultz, one of Grayson’s trial attorneys who confirmed his death to the Tribune, did not provide additional information about the cause or manner of death.

In a statement to media Sunday, attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, who represent Massey’s family, said her death was unjustifiable and that Grayson’s death “does not bring Sonya back.”

“We wish his family prayers of peace, as we do for all who grieve a loved one,” the statement said. “Sonya’s family knows that pain all too well and will grieve her loss the rest of their days.”

The Illinois Department of Corrections could not be immediately reached for comment.

In January, a judge sentenced Grayson to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder, the maximum penalty allowed under Illinois law.

The high-profile case, which sparked national outrage, hinged largely on graphic body-camera footage. It showed the white deputy fatally shooting the 36-year-old Black mother of two after she called 911 in July 2024 to report a possible prowler near her home, located just outside Springfield.

After Massey’s death, Grayson got fired, the Sangamon County sheriff at the time of the shooting resigned, and attorneys Crump and Romanucci helped Massey’s family secure a $10 million settlement from Sangamon County.

Chicago Tribune’s Rebecca Johnson and Jeremy Gorner contributed.

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