Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her home in 2024, has died, according to his attorney.
Daniel Fultz, who represented Grayson during his murder trial, said Grayson died around noon Sunday. Grayson, 32, was approximately six months into a 20-year sentence for second-degree murder.
Grayson had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, according to defense attorney Mark Wykoff, who disclosed the diagnosis during Grayson’s sentencing in January. In July, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board denied Grayson’s request for medical release.
It was not immediately clear whether cancer contributed to Grayson’s death.
Grayson was convicted in 2025 in the fatal shooting of Massey, 36, who had called 911 to report a prowler at her home. The shooting was captured on body-camera video and sparked protests and renewed calls for police accountability.
During the 911 response, Massey picked up a pot of boiling water from her stove, prompting Grayson to back away, according to testimony presented during the trial. Grayson then shot Massey.
The case drew widespread national attention and became a flashpoint in discussions about police use of force and the treatment of Black Americans during encounters with law enforcement.
