Former Illinois cop Sean Grayson dies in prison while serving sentence for murder of Sonya Massey inside her home after she called 911 for help

Published: 00:48, 24 August 2026 | Updated: 00:59, 24 August 2026 A former Illinois sheriff's deputy who shot and killed a black woman after she called 911 for help has died in prison. Sean Grayson, 32, died around noon on Sunday, just six months into his 20-year sentence for the second degree murder of Sonya Massey, attorney Daniel Fultz told NBC News. Grayson had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, defense attorney Mark Wykoff revealed at his sentencing in January. He was then denied medical release by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board last month, after his attorneys claimed the cancer had progressed to Stage 4 and spread to his liver and lungs. An Illinois Department of Corrections medical professional concluded that Grayson was likely to die within 18 months, according to medical-release files obtained by Capitol News Illinois. But Grayson did not select terminal illness as the reason for his request, instead applying under a provision covering prisoners expected to become medically incapacitated within six months. The former sheriff's deputy had been convicted of second-degree murder in October and  was handed the maximum 20-year sentence in January for the July 2024 killing.  'Sonya Massey's death was unjustifiable and she should be alive today,' Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, attorneys representing Massey's family, said in a statement on Sunday.  'Sean Grayson's death in custody from cancer does nothing to bring Sonya back,' they noted.  Sean Grayson, 32, died around noon on Sunday, just six months into his 20-year sentence for the second degree murder of Sonya Massey Sonya Massey, 36, was shot inside her Springfield, Illinois, home after calling 911 to report a possible prowler in 2024 'We wish his family prayers of peace, as we do for all who grieve a loved one,' the lawyers continued. 'Sonya's family know that pain all to well and will grieve her loss the rest of their days.'  Massey had called 911 in the early hours of July 6, 2024, because she believed a prowler was lurking outside her home. Grayson and another Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy searched the property but found no intruder before entering the home to question her. He then directed Massey to remove a pot of boiling water from the stove, telling her: ‘We don’t need a fire alarm here.’ As the other deputy stepped away from the pot, Massey told the officers: ‘I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.’ Grayson responded: ‘I’ll fing shoot you right in the fing face,’ and drew his gun. Massey apologized and dropped to the floor, but Grayson moved toward her and fired three times. Body-camera footage showed Grayson pointing his gun at Massey moments before shooting her in the face This is a breaking news story and will be updated.