January 29 (UPI) — An Illinois judge on Thursday sentenced a former deputy sheriff to 20 years in prison for shooting and killing a 36-year-old woman who called authorities to her home on suspicion of stealing.
Sangamon County Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin sentenced Sean Grayson to 20 years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, minus time served during trial. On July 6, 2024, he shot Sonya Massey three times in the face, killing her.
The sentence is the maximum penalty for second-degree murder, which carries a potential penalty of four to 20 years in prison.
Sangamon County Sheriff’s officers visited Sonya Massey’s Springfield home after she reported a possible break-in.
They questioned her at home and asked her to check a pot of boiling water on the stove.
Body camera footage shows Sonia Macy moving the pot off the stove and Grayson telling her to “stay away from the steaming water.” Sonia Massey repeated his command, saying twice: “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
Body camera footage shows her appearing to pour water into the sink as Grayson threatened to shoot her in the face. Sonia Massey apologized and hid behind the kitchen counter. When she stood up, Grayson shot her three times in the face.
Sonya Massey’s 16-year-old daughter, Summer Massey, told the outlet she was grateful Cadakin gave Grayson the maximum sentence.
“I’m grateful we got the maximum sentence we could get,” Sommer said. “Twenty years is not enough, but… they did what they could.”
Summer Massey said she believes Grayson doesn’t understand or care about the harm he caused her, her brother and their family.
Her brother Malachi Massey, 19, said he had suffered “unimaginable pain” after his mother was killed.
“My soul was torn apart,” he added, “it was like a part of me was literally dead.”
Grayson, who is white, apologized for shooting Sonya Massey, who was Black, and said he made a “terrible decision” that led to her death.
“I was very unprofessional that night,” Grayson told the court. “She doesn’t deserve to be yelled at, cursed at and insulted. No one deserves that.”
Cardigan responded that Grayson “needs to curb his irrational anger” when he is sentenced.
Although Grayson, 31, has a maximum sentence of 20 years, he could be released in half that time if he behaves well.
The jury deliberated for nearly 12 hours before returning the guilty verdict in October.
