Sean Grayson sentencing for Sonya Massey shooting underway in Springfield, Illinois

Sentencing for a former Sangamon County, Illinois deputy convicted in the killing of a woman who called 911 for help back in 2024, is scheduled for Thursday.

Sean Grayson was found guilty last October of second-degree murder for the shooting of Sonya Massey.

Grayson’s trial took place in Peoria due to pretrial publicity, but he will be sentenced at the Sangamon County Complex in Springfield.

In July 2024, Massey, a 36-year-old unarmed Black woman, called police for help for a possible prowler outside her home.

Inside the home, Grayson said Massey began acting erratically and rebuked him “in the name of Jesus” while walking towards a pot of water on her stove. Body cam video from Grayson’s partner captured the moment he shot Massey, who died of a gunshot wound. 

Grayson’s body camera was not activated for most of the call, only turning on shortly after he pulled his weapon.

At trial last fall, Dawson Farley, Grayson’s former partner on the night of the Massey shooting, testified during the trial that he was not afraid of Massey during the call, but instead feared Grayson. Farley told the jury that, while he was confused after Massey said “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” he never perceived that as a threat. He added he only unholstered his gun because Grayson did.

Grayson also took the stand in his own defense at trial. He testified that finding broken windows on Massey’s car, her 911 call for help and waiting four minutes for her to answer the phone made him concerned someone else was inside. He also said he believed she may have been “under the influence of something” and said she appeared “scatterbrained.”

Grayson faces anywhere from four to 20 years in prison and is expected to serve at least 50% of the sentence.

At the sentencing hearing Thursday, Massey’s family could give statements in open court, as could Grayson himself. Massey’s family is also speaking after the hearing.