Sean Grayson appeared in court on Thursday (Jan. 29) for his sentencing, per the Associated Press. He’s the previous Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of second-degree murder within the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who called 911 to request help for an alleged prowler. The 31-year-old deputy was convicted in October and faced as much as 20 years in prison. And that’s exactly what he got when the judge read his sentence!
RELATED: Former Illinois Deputy Sean Grayson Found Guilty In Fatal Shooting Of Sonya Massey
Sean Grayson Apologizes At Sentencing
As mentioned, Sean Grayson got 20 years in prison for fatally shooting Sonya Massey, which is the utmost possible sentence. He has been incarcerated since he was charged with the killing. Grayson’s attorneys had filed a motion for a brand new trial, which Judge Ryan Cadigan dismissed initially of the sentencing.
Also in the course of the hearing, Sean Grayson apologized. He said he wished he could bring Massey back and spare her family the pain he caused.
“I made a number of mistakes that night. There have been points once I should’ve acted, and I didn’t. I froze,” he said. “I made terrible decisions that night. I’m sorry.”
Grayson was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, which could have led to a life sentence, but a jury convicted him of the lesser charge. Illinois allows for a second-degree murder conviction if evidence shows the defendant truthfully thought he was in peril, even when that fear was unreasonable.
Sonya Massey’s Family Speaks After 20-Yr Sentence
Sonya Massey’s parents and two children has lobbied for the utmost sentence. On Thursday, they their lives had modified dramatically for the reason that killing. Her two children said that they had to grow up and not using a mother, while Massey’s mother said she lived in fear. They asked the judge to perform justice in her name.
“Today, I’m afraid to call the police in fear that I’d find yourself like Sonya,” her mother Donna Massey said.
When the judge read the sentence, the family reacted with a loud cheer: “Yes!” The judge admonished them. After the hearing, Sonya Massey’s relatives thanked the general public for the support and listening to their stories about Massey.
“Twenty years shouldn’t be enough,” her daughter Summer told reporters.
Massey’s family was previously outraged by the jury’s decision to convict Sean Grayson of the lesser charge. “The justice system did exactly what it’s designed to do today. It’s not meant for us,” her cousin Sontae Massey said in October after the decision.
Massey’s killing raised recent questions on U.S. law enforcement shootings of Black people of their homes. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump negotiated a $10 million settlement with Sangamon County on behalf of Massey’s relatives. The case also prompted a U.S. Justice Department inquiry, which was settled when the county agreed to implement more de-escalation training, collect more use-of-force data, and require the sheriff who hired Grayson to retire. The case also prompted a change in Illinois law requiring fuller transparency on the backgrounds of candidates for law enforcement jobs.
A Recap Of Sonya Massey’s Fatal Shooting
Within the early morning hours of July 6, 2024, Massey called emergency responders because she feared there was a prowler outside her Springfield home. She struggled with mental health issues. In accordance with body camera footage, Grayson and Sheriff’s Deputy Dawson Farley searched Massey’s yard before meeting her at her door. Farley was not charged in her later death. On the door, Sonya Massey appeared confused and repeatedly said, “Please, God.” The deputies entered her house, and Grayson noticed the pot on the stove and ordered Farley to maneuver it. As a substitute, Massey went to the stove, retrieved the pot and teased Grayson for moving away from “the recent, steaming water.”
From this moment, the exchange quickly escalated. Massey said, “I rebuke you within the name of Jesus.” Grayson drew his sidearm and yelled at her to drop the pan. She set the pot down and ducked behind a counter. But she appeared to choose it up again. That’s when Grayson opened fire on the 36-year-old single mother, shooting her within the face. He testified that he feared Massey would scald him.
Associated Press writers John O’Connor and Sophia Tareen contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
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