Sonya Massey's family expresses shock after cop who gunned her down dies six months into lengthy prison sentence: 'Not what justice looks like'

Published: 01:27, 25 August 2026 | Updated: 01:27, 25 August 2026 The family of a black woman who was shot dead by a former Illinois sheriff's deputy were left shocked when her killer died just months into his lengthy prison sentence. Sean Grayson, 32, was pronounced dead around noon on Sunday, after serving only 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 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. But Massey's cousin, Sontae Massey, said the woman's mother, son and daughter were initially struggling to accept the news of Grayson's death, saying 'they want to see his body.' 'None of us are OK,' he told TMZ, noting that the family has struggled to get any information about the disgraced deputy since his trial last year and even had to find out about his death online. 'This is not what justice looks like,' Sontae Massey continued. 'I don't think any black American can achieve true justice. I think we got as good as we could get. 'True justice would be serving his full time, sick or not,' he argued.  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 Grayson had been convicted of second-degree murder in October and was handed the maximum 20-year sentence in January for the July 2024 killing.  Still, Massey's cousin said he should have been charged with first-degree murder for the fatal shooting on July 6, 2024. Massey, a single mother, had called 911 early that morning 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 f***ing shoot you right in the f***ing face,’ and drew his gun. Massey apologized and dropped to the floor, but Grayson moved toward her and fired three times. One bullet struck Massey in the head and killed her.  Grayson responded to Massey's home after she reported a prowler outside  Body-camera footage showed Grayson pointing his gun at Massey moments before shooting her in the face Grayson later said he took the rebuke as a threat that she was about to toss the boiling water at him.  But Massey's cousin said the excuse was 'insulting.' 'He said what he was going to do and he did it,' he noted, recounting how he had last spoken to his cousin just hours before her death. At the time, he said Sonya called her uncle because she was afraid to be alone – and the family told her to make some tea before they took her to breakfast the next morning.  That is why, Massey had a pot of hot water on the stove when Grayson and another sheriff's deputy responded to the scene, her cousin explained.  '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.  Massey's family said his death behind bars is not justice for her July 2024 killing  '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.'  The shooting death triggered nationwide protests, a US Department of Justice review and renewed scrutiny of police hiring practices. Sangamon County later agreed to pay her family $10 million to settle a wrongful-death claim.