Former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson was serving a 20-year prison sentence for the fatal shooting of . Grayson had been battling stage 4 colon cancer and had recently been denied early medical release by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. His attorney confirmed on Sunday that Grayson died in custody.
The attorney did not immediately disclose the cause or circumstances of Grayson’s death. His passing comes weeks after the review board unanimously rejected his request for compassionate release, ruling that he would remain behind bars despite his terminal illness.
In a joint statement after news of his death, civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, who represent the Massey family, said, “Sonya Massey’s death was unjustifiable, and she should be alive today. Sean Grayson’s death in custody from cancer does not bring Sonya back.”
They also extended condolences to Grayson’s family
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Five things to know about Sean Grayson
1. He was a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy. Sean Grayson served as a deputy with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois. His law enforcement career ended after he was charged in the July 2024 shooting of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman.
He responded to Sonya Massey’s Springfield home on July 6, 2024, after she called 911 to report a possible intruder.
The encounter quickly escalated inside Massey’s home.
2. He was convicted of murdering Sonya Massey. In October 2025, a jury convicted Grayson of second-degree murder in Massey’s death. He was sentenced in January 2026 to 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors argued that his use of deadly force was unjustified, while the defense maintained that he believed Massey posed a threat.
During the trial, Grayson testified that he believed Massey was going to throw boiling water at him and said he feared for his safety. His attorneys argued he reacted to a perceived threat.
3. Grayson’s partner’s body camera footage was the guiding evidence against him. Body camera footage from another responding officer showed Grayson confronting Massey near a pot of boiling water.
According to prosecutors, Grayson threatened Massey with his firearm before shooting her three times. The shooting happened after Massey said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” according to the released footage.
Moments later, he fired three shots, killing her. Authorities said Grayson did not activate his own body camera until after the shooting, so the incident was captured primarily on his partner’s camera.
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4. He sought early release because of terminal cancer. Grayson was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer before the shooting, according to prosecutors. While in prison, he sought compassionate release, arguing that his illness warranted medical parole. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board unanimously denied the request last month. Prosecutors opposed his release, arguing that he remained a danger to the public despite his illness.
Massey’s relatives also opposed the request. Her cousin Sontae Massey said the family wanted to ensure Grayson remained behind bars.
5. Massey’s family fought to keep him in prison. Members of Sonya Massey’s family publicly opposed Grayson’s release. Her cousin, Sontae Massey, said the family would continue opposing any future release attempts. Sonya’s mother, Donna Massey, said she continued grieving every day and believed Grayson should remain imprisoned. Her son, Malachi Massey, also questioned why Grayson sought compassion after showing none to his mother.
