AT A GLANCE
- Former Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson is on trial for fatally shooting 36-year-old Sonya Massey in July 2024.
- Massey, a Springfield mother of two, had called 911 about a possible prowler before being killed inside her home.
- Grayson, who is white, fired three shots at Massey, claiming he feared for his life.
- The trial has been moved to Peoria after concerns about pretrial publicity in Sangamon County.
Sonya Massey Was Killed in 2024 After Calling Authorities to Her Springfield Home Over Concerns About a Prowler
The trial of former Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, charged with murdering Sonya Massey, began Monday morning in Peoria with jury selection. Grayson faces three counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated battery, and one count of official misconduct for the 2024 killing that sparked nationwide outrage.
Grayson, who pleaded not guilty, was fired less than two weeks after the shooting and has remained in custody awaiting trial. Cameras are barred from the courtroom, and proceedings are expected to last one to two weeks.
A 911 Call That Turned Deadly
On the night of July 6, 2024, Massey called authorities to her Springfield home, reporting a possible intruder. Body camera footage captured two deputies entering her home, including Grayson. Moments later, he shot Massey three times, later claiming he feared “bodily harm” because she was holding a pot of boiling water and said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
Her family says Massey suffered from mental health challenges and had called police seeking help—not harm. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office terminated Grayson after reviewing the footage.
Community Outrage and Calls for Accountability
The killing set off nationwide protests demanding justice for Massey. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family, said the incident symbolizes “the deadly consequences of bias and poor training.” In February 2025, county officials approved a $10 million settlement with Massey’s family, which Crump described as “only the first step in the journey for justice.”
On Monday morning, as the trial began, demonstrators gathered outside the Peoria County Courthouse chanting, “No justice, no peace — prosecute the police.” One sign read: “Unite Now Against Racist Violence.”
Keri Hayes, racial justice committee chair for the ACLU in Peoria, told NBC News, “It was a senseless slaying. I really want to see the police being held accountable.”
Change of Venue After Media Attention
In April, a judge approved moving the case from Sangamon County to Peoria, after defense attorneys argued that intense local coverage had “shaped public perception” and jeopardized Grayson’s right to a fair trial.
The outcome of this case will be closely watched as another measure of how American courts handle police killings of unarmed Black citizens—cases that continue to test public trust in law enforcement and the justice system.
