Former Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson was found guilty Wednesday of second-degree murder in the 2024 death of Sonya Massey. a black mother of two who had called 911 about a possible prowler.
Grayson was charged with first-degree murder, but jury instructions included the option of convicting him of the lesser charge of second-degree murder.
Jurors deliberated for about 11 hours after closing arguments ended Tuesday morning. Grayson’s family cried and held hands as the verdict was read.
Outside the courthouse, protesters celebrated the guilty verdict and chanted, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, who represented her family, said they believe Grayson’s actions warranted a first-degree murder conviction, but that it was “still a measure of justice for Sonya Massey.”
Former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow said the defense made a “strategic decision” in including the second-degree murder charge.
“The prosecution probably felt confident in its case and was willing to ask for an all-or-nothing verdict. But the defense didn’t want to take that risk, so “They pleaded for a lesser included charge,” he told NBC News.
Grayson faces four to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder. Under state law, he would likely be eligible to receive daily credit for good behavior in prison, meaning he could end up serving only half of his sentence.
Grayson was charged in July 2024 with the shooting death of Massey, who had called authorities over concerns about the possible prowler outside his Springfield home. Body camera video shows the moments she was shot and killed in her kitchen during a confrontation over a pot of boiling water.
His death sparked calls for justice, protests across the country and reignited scrutiny over the shootings of Black people in their homes by law enforcement. Grayson is white.
Last week, Grayson’s former partner, Deputy Dawson Farley, testified that he was not scared by any of Massey’s actions. He said he pulled his gun because he was “trying to back up my partner.”
In closing arguments, the defense noted that Farley altered his police report after Grayson was charged with first-degree murder, arguing that Farley lied and changed his story.
Body camera footage central to this case was played in the courtroom three times, showing Massey speaking with officers and removing a pot of hot water from his stove shortly before the shooting.
On Monday, Grayson took the stand in her own defense and told the court she believed Massey was going to throw scalding water on her after she said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
He testified that he took her comment as a threat and that’s why he pulled out his firearm. Grayson said he didn’t try to use his stun gun because he wasn’t sure if it would work because of his clothing.
“I didn’t want to take the risk of the Taser malfunctioning,” he said. “The Taser doesn’t work on everyone.”
In her closing arguments Tuesday, First Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Beth Rodgers said Massey made no sudden moves and “peacefully” agreed to drop the pot of water.
“‘I’m sorry.’ “That’s the last thing Sonya Massey said before the defendant murdered her, just as he said he would,” she told the jury.
“He wants you to believe he was scared, but you don’t have to believe that because it’s not true,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers argued that Grayson cannot claim self-defense justified his shooting because he provoked the use of force against himself.
Daniel Fultz, Grayson’s attorney, said Massey initially complied and put the pot down, but “the situation escalated when he picked up the pot again, stood up, raised it over his head and began to throw it.”
He argued that Grayson pulled out his gun to gain Massey’s compliance and said his death “was a tragedy, but not a crime.”
“You are not here to decide whether or not Sean Grayson followed every policy, every national best practice, every policing principle that experts believe he should have followed,” he said in his closing argument. “That is not what we are doing today in this criminal court.”
Fultz said Grayson believed his gun was his only option and highlighted expert testimony that Grayson had to advance toward Massey to maintain a line of sight on her.
Fultz asked the jury not to let their emotions dictate the outcome of this case.
In final closing argument to the jury, Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser argued that it was Grayson who let his emotions dictate what happened in Massey’s kitchen.
“These were not the actions of a scared young police officer doing a dangerous job. These are the actions of a thug,” Milhiser said. “If anyone was in crisis, it was him. He exploded.”
