Former Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson has been convicted of second-degree murder for the death of Sonya Massey, a Black mother who was fatally shot after she called 911 to report a possible intruder at her home. Although Grayson initially faced a first-degree murder charges, the jury chose to convict him with a lesser charge on Wednesday, NBC News reported.
Sonya Massey’s family’s attorneys initially wanted a first-degree charge for Sean Grayson
While Grayson’s family cried in court after hearing the verdict, Massey’s supporters celebrated the decision outside of the courthouse. Protesters, who came together to demand justice for Massey, chanted “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” That was the same phrase Massey used shortly before Grayson fired shots in her house.
Massey’s attorneys, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, expressed relief after the verdict, but also wanted a first-degree charge for Grayson. Per NBC News, the attorneys said it was “still a measure of justice for Sonya Massey” despite the lesser conviction.
Former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow said the jury made a strategic decision in its ruling: “The prosecution likely felt confident about their case and was willing to go for an all-or-nothing verdict. But the defense did not want to take that chance, so they advocated for a lesser included charge,” Chutkow told NBC News.
Sean Grayson faces between four and 20 years in prison after fatally shooting Sonya Massey
According to Illinois law, Grayson’s sentence could also be reduced by half if he shows good behavior in prison.
As Blavity reported, Grayson fatally shot Massey after she called police to her Springfield home last summer. Body camera footage showed Massey answering the door and telling Grayson and another officer, “Please, don’t hurt me.”
Grayson later spotted a pot of boiling water in the home and told Massey, “We don’t need a fire while we’re in here.” A short time later, Massey told Grayson “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus” while pouring water from the pot into the sink.
Massey hid behind a counter as Grayson threatened to shoot her. The deputy then shot her three times when she came out of her hiding spot.