PEORIA, IL – A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy was found guilty of second-degree murder on Oct. 29 in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman whose killing sparked protests and an investigation into discrimination by the Department of Justice last year.
The verdict against Sean Grayson, 31, came on the second day of deliberations in the high-profile case. Jurors opted not to charge Grayson with first-degree murder, which carries a possible sentence of life in prison.
The lower, second-degree murder charge was added to jury instructions by the judge before deliberations began on Oct. 28. Grayson faces up to 20 years in prison; the judge scheduled a sentencing hearing for Jan. 29, 2026.
Attorneys for the Massey family said while they wish Grayson was convicted of first-degree murder, the verdict represented "a measure of justice for Sonya Massey."
"Accountability has begun, and we now hope the court will impose a meaningful sentence that reflects the severity of these crimes and the life that was lost," attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said in a statement. "We will continue to fight for Sonya’s family and for reforms that protect everyone from unlawful use of force."
