Sean Grayson, 32, was serving a 20-year prison sentence for the July 2024 fatal shooting of Sonya Massey when he died in an Illinois prison, according to his attorney Daniel L. Fultz. Grayson had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, and it had progressed to Stage 4 by the time of his sentencing in January 2025. The cancer had spread to his liver, lungs, and rectum, according to his defense attorneys, but Despite medical concerns, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board denied Grayson’s request for medical release last month. It was not immediately clear if cancer was the direct cause of his death.

Shooting and Conviction

On July 6, 2024, Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, called 911 to report a possible prowler near her Springfield-area home. Grayson and another deputy responded. During their interaction, Massey reportedly told Grayson, “Don’t hurt me.” According to body camera footage, Massey became agitated and said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson testified that he interpreted the statement as a threat. He later pointed his gun at her, threatened to shoot, and fired three times, striking her in the head. Massey was pronounced dead at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.

Grayson’s body camera was not activated for most of the call and only turned on shortly after he drew his weapon. His partner, Dawson Farley, testified in court that he did not see Massey as a threat and drew his own gun only after Grayson did so. Grayson was fired from his position as a deputy following the incident.

Legal and Public Response

In October 2024, a jury convicted Grayson of second-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, followed by two years of mandatory supervised release. The conviction came after a grand jury had initially indicted him on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct.

Massey’s attorneys, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, issued a statement following Grayson’s death, saying, “Grayson’s death in custody from cancer does not bring Sonya back — we wish his family prayers of peace, as we do for all who grieve a loved one. Sonya’s family knows that pain all too well and will grieve her loss the rest of their days.”

In court, Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said Grayson declined to offer medical care to Massey after the shooting. First Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Beth Rodgers said during the trial, “‘I’m sorry.’ That is the last thing Sonya Massey said before the defendant murdered her, just like he said he would.”

Medical Release and Prison Conditions

In May 2025, Grayson submitted a request for medical release under Illinois law for inmates with terminal or serious illnesses — the Illinois Prisoner Review Board denied the application, stating he must remain in prison despite the advanced stage of his cancer. The denial came just weeks before his death in custody.

CBS News Chicago reached out to the Illinois Department of Corrections for clarification but had not received a response at the time of publication. The lack of medical release for terminally ill inmates has drawn attention from advocates and lawmakers, with many questioning the balance between prison policy and compassionate care.

Grayson’s death marks the end of a legal and public controversy that sparked protests and calls for justice in the aftermath of Massey’s killing. The incident also reignited national discussions about police accountability, racial disparities in law enforcement, and the treatment of Black women in encounters with police.