Former Illinois deputy found guilty of murdering Sonya Massey during boiling water incident

Former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, Sean Grayson, has been found guilty of second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, more than a year after he killed her inside her home.

The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, October 29, following a week-long trial and a full day of jury deliberations that began on Tuesday.

Grayson was arrested in July 2024 after shooting Massey, who had called 911 to report a suspected prowler near her residence. The incident sparked nationwide outrage when bodycam footage revealed the shocking moments leading to her death.

According to the footage, Massey was seen turning off her stove and carrying a pot of boiling water to the sink while two deputies were in the room. Moments later, Grayson yelled at her to “drop the pot” before stepping forward and shooting her at close range.

Massey died from her injuries, and the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office later dismissed Grayson, who claimed he fired out of fear that she might throw the boiling water at him.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Massey’s family, condemned Grayson’s defense, describing the shooting as an act of excessive force and racial bias. He maintained that Massey posed no threat and that the deputy’s actions were “unprovoked and unjustifiable.”

In 2024, the Massey family reached a $10 million civil settlement with local authorities over her wrongful death.

Grayson’s conviction marks a rare instance of a police officer being held criminally accountable for a fatal shooting, which many view as a significant step toward justice for Sonya Massey and her family.

He now awaits sentencing for second-degree murder.