Justice Denied: The Trial of Sonya Massey
By: Pilar Walton
Edited by: Oscar Guzzino and Alexa Tan
“I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” Sonya Massey said, raising her hands in fear before she was fatally shot in the face. [1] “She’s done. She’s done,” was the response of Officer Sean Grayson after firing the shots. [2] This shooting took place on July 6, 2024, and the verdict was announced on October 29, 2025. For Massey’s family this case represents the racial fault lines that shape encounters between Black Americans and law enforcement. James Wilburn, Massey’s father, stressed that “There’s a difference in this country when you have my skin color and Grayson’s skin color. We need serious justice, not a miscarriage of justice that happened here.” [3]
Massey was a 36-year-old African American mother of two living in Springfield, Illinois. According to her mother Donna, she had a history of mental health struggles and was deeply spiritual. Donna shared that Massey was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. [4] The day before the shooting, Donna called 911 and reported that her daughter was having a mental breakdown. On the call she pleaded, “Please don’t send no combat policemen that are prejudiced. I don’t want you guys to hurt her.” [5]
On the night of the incident, Massey called 911 because she suspected there was an intruder in her home. Two white policemen, Sean Grayson and Dawson Farley, came to investigate. As seen from body camera footage, Sean Grayson searched the yard before entering her home around 1:15 A.M. Once the deputies entered the house, they noticed a pot of boiling water. Grayson pointed out to Massey, “We don’t need a fire while we’re here,” instructing her to remove it. [6] Massey went to remove the pot while saying, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” words that would soon appear on news headlines across the nation. Grayson, threatened by this response, drew his 9mm pistol and pointed it at her. Both deputies yelled “drop the f—ing pot” before Grayson fired three shots. One of the shots struck Massey below her left eye. At St. John’s Hospital, approximately 26 minutes after the shooting, she was pronounced dead. [7]
The trial began 15 weeks after the shooting and lasted five days before jury deliberation. Attorneys Daniel Fultz and Mark Wykoff represented defendant Sean Grayson, and the prosecution was represented by civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci. On October 22, opening statements began. The prosecution argued that Grayson did not follow police practices, while the defense contended that Grayson was acting in self-defense. Interestingly enough, Officer Dawson Farley, Grayson’s deputy partner, testified against him, revealing that Grayson returned with his medical kit after the shooting but didn’t want to “waste it” on Massey. [8] On the second day, testimony from a forensic pathologist revealed that there was a chance Massey would have survived if she had received medical attention promptly after being shot. During witness examination, when Grayson was asked about his choice not to use his taser, he testified that “[he] did not try to use [his] stun gun because [he] was not sure whether it would work because of Massey’s clothing.” [9] Daniel Fultz, defense attorney, claimed that it was Massey who escalated the situation by picking the pot up and beginning to throw it. However, body camera footage revealed that Masseyimmediately put the pot down once ordered. Fultz argued that Grayson drew his weapon to gain Massey’s compliance and said her death “was a tragedy, but it was not a crime.” [10] On the other hand, Officer Farley asserted that Massey never posed a real threat to either of the officers.
Grayson was originally charged with first-degree murder, but jury instructions included “the option to convict him of a lesser charge of second-degree murder.” [11] The defining factor for first-degree murder is premeditation, meaning the killing must be performed willfully, deliberately, or after planning. [12] Nevertheless, this murder was relegated to the second-degree category on the account that Grayson had an unreasonable belief that his actions were justified. The mitigating factor for second-degree murder in Illinois is belief or provocation, meaning that Grayson should have held a reasonable belief that he was acting in self-defense. An important question then arises: Did Grayson feel that there was a serious provocation and that he had no choice but to draw his weapon? If so, the defense only needs to prove Grayson’s belief of provocation, not his innocence.
The jury consisted of 12 members. Despite Springfield’'s 20 percent Black population, only one of the jury members was Black. Over 12 hours, they examined body camera footage, weighed expert testimony, and evaluated the reasonableness of Massey’s actions. Central to their deliberations was the question of whether Grayson’s use of deadly force could plausibly be understood as self-defense. On October 29, the result of the jury deliberation was revealed: Grayson was found guilty of second-degree murder, facing four to 20 years in prison. Under state law, he could be released in as little as two years due to good behavior. [13] The reality that a man who took the life of an innocent, distressed woman can walk the streets freely after only serving a fraction of his sentence exposes the absurd racial injustices in the American legal system.
This incident raises deeper concerns about the role of law enforcement in shaping life-or-death outcomes. Officers have the duty to de-escalate volatile situations, especially when responding to calls for assistance. However, the police encounter with Massey, a woman who sought help, displayed no lethal weapons, and attempted to comply with officers’ instructions, ended in her death. Body camera footage and witness testimony make it clear that the force used by Grayson was neither proportionate nor justified. This trial illustrates a larger trend of racial biases shaping law enforcement judgments and who officers deem to be dangerous.
Massey’s murder triggered national outcry, with intense media coverage and varying views on whether her killing was justified. After the second-degree murder conviction, Massey’s attorneys claimed it was still “a measure of justice for Sonya Massey.” [14] But responses from her family differed. “[How do you] get an officer who says he’s going to shoot you in the face, and then he shoots you in the face, and you only get second-degree murder?” remarked Massey’s cousin. [15] Data shows that it is not common for officers to be charged with murder. Statistics from Bowling Green State University show that law enforcement officers in the U.S. kill approximately 1,000 people per year, but, in 2024, officers were charged with a crime in only 10 out of over 1,200 killings. [16] Such charges are extremely rare as the legal standard gives officers the latitude to use deadly force if necessary.
The experiences of the many Black victims of police brutality make failures in prosecutorial accountability painfully clear. Massey’s murder is not an isolated issue. It reflects broader systemic deficiencies in policing practices, including inadequate training for responding to individuals with mental health issues, disproportionate fear directed toward Black civilians, and officers who default to violence far too often. This trial resonates with the experiences of other victims like Breonna Taylor, Tanisha Anderson, and Natasha McKenna, exposing the deep-rooted racial oppression that festers in the U.S. to this day. Together, these tragedies highlight the urgent need for structural reform and meaningful prosecutorial accountability within the American legal system.
Notes:
1. Police Staff, “Former Ill. Deputy on Trial for Murder Testifies about Fatal OIS of Sonya Massey,” Police1, December 12, 2025, https://www.police1.com/legal/former-ill-deputy-on-trial-for-murder-testifies-about-fatal-ois-of-sonya-massey/.
2. Ray Sanchez, “Former Illinois Deputy Found Guilty in Sonya Massey’s Killing,” CNN, October 29, 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/29/us/sonya-massey-verdict-deputy-guilty.
3. David Greenwald, “Illinois Deputy Convicted in Sonya Massey Killing,” Davis Vanguard, October 29, 2025, https://davisvanguard.org/2025/10/illinois-deputy-convicted-sonya-massey/.
4. KWQC Staff, “Illinois Deputy Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder in Sonya Massey’s Death,” KWQC-TV6 News, October 29, 2025, https://www.kwqc.com/2025/10/29/illinois-deputy-found-guilty-second-degree-murder-sonya-massey-death/.
5. María Luisa Paúl, “Sonya Massey Called 911 for Help. A Deputy Shot Her Dead,” Washington Post, July 31, 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/07/31/sonya-massey-killing-911-calls/.
6. KOMO News Staff, “ ‘Partial Justice’: Father of Sonya Massey Speaks after Former Deputy Found Guilty of Murder,” KOMO News, October 30, 2025, https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/partial-justice-father-of-sonya-massey-speaks-after-former-deputy-found-guilty-of-murder.
7. Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, “Sonya Massey Information,” Sangamon County Government, accessed December 13, 2025, https://sangamonil.gov/departments/s-z/sheriff/sonya-massey-information.
8. Patrick Yeagle, “Sean Grayson Murder Trial Update: Sonya Massey Opening Arguments, Testimony Recap First Day,” The State Journal-Register, October 23, 2025, https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/courts/2025/10/23/sean-grayson-murder-trial-update-sonya-massey-opening-arguments-testimony-recap-first-day/86836288007/.
9. Daniel Arkin, “Former Illinois Sheriff’s Deputy on Trial in Sonya Massey’s Death Testifies He Thought She Had a Gun,” NBC News, December 12, 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/former-illinois-sheriff-deputy-trial-sonya-masseys-death-testifies-sho-rcna240034.
10. Arkin, Grayson Trial Testimony.
11. Yeagle, Grayson Trial Update.
12. Legal Information Institute, “First Degree Murder,” Cornell Law School, accessed December 13, 2025, https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/first_degree_murder.
13. Arkin, Grayson Trial Testimony.
14. Arkin, Grayson Trial Testimony.
15. Arkin, Grayson Trial Testimony.
16. Philip M. Stinson, “On-Duty Shootings: Police Officers Charged with Murder or Manslaughter,” Police Integrity Lost: A Study of Law Enforcement Officers Arrested, Bowling Green State University, 2016, https://www.bgsu.edu/content/dam/BGSU/health-and-human-services/document/Criminal-Justice-Program/policeintegritylostresearch/-9-On-Duty-Shootings-Police-Officers-Charged-with-Murder-or-Manslaughter.pdf.
Bibliography:
Arkin, Daniel. “Former Illinois Sheriff’s Deputy on Trial in Sonya Massey’s Death Testifies He Thought She Had a Gun.” NBC News, December 12, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/former-illinois-sheriff-deputy-trial-sonya-masseys-death-testifies-sho-rcna240034.
Greenwald, David. “Illinois Deputy Convicted in Sonya Massey Killing.” Davis Vanguard, October 29, 2025. https://davisvanguard.org/2025/10/illinois-deputy-convicted-sonya-massey/.
KOMO News Staff. “‘Partial Justice’: Father of Sonya Massey Speaks after Former Deputy Found Guilty of Murder.” KOMO News, October 30, 2025. https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/partial-justice-father-of-sonya-massey-speaks-after-former-deputy-found-guilty-of-murder.
KWQC Staff. “Illinois Deputy Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder in Sonya Massey’s Death.” KWQC-TV6 News, October 29, 2025. https://www.kwqc.com/2025/10/29/illinois-deputy-found-guilty-second-degree-murder-sonya-massey-death/.
Legal Information Institute. “First Degree Murder.” Cornell Law School. Accessed December 13, 2025. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/first_degree_murder.
Paúl, María Luisa. “Sonya Massey Called 911 for Help. A Deputy Shot Her Dead.” Washington Post, July 31, 2024. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/07/31/sonya-massey-killing-911-calls/.
Police Staff. “Former Ill. Deputy on Trial for Murder Testifies about Fatal OIS of Sonya Massey.” Police1, December 12, 2025. https://www.police1.com/legal/former-ill-deputy-on-trial-for-murder-testifies-about-fatal-ois-of-sonya-massey/.
Sanchez, Ray. “Former Illinois Deputy Found Guilty in Sonya Massey’s Killing.” CNN, October 29, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/29/us/sonya-massey-verdict-deputy-guilty.
Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. “Sonya Massey Information.” Sangamon County Government. Accessed December 13, 2025. https://sangamonil.gov/departments/s-z/sheriff/sonya-massey-information.
Stinson, Philip M. “On-Duty Shootings: Police Officers Charged with Murder or Manslaughter.” Police Integrity Lost: A Study of Law Enforcement Officers Arrested. Bowling Green State University, 2016. https://www.bgsu.edu/content/dam/BGSU/health-and-human-services/document/Criminal-Justice-Program/policeintegritylostresearch/-9-On-Duty-Shootings-Police-Officers-Charged-with-Murder-or-Manslaughter.pdf.
Yeagle, Patrick. “Sean Grayson Murder Trial Update: Sonya Massey Opening Arguments, Testimony Recap First Day.” The State Journal-Register, October 23, 2025. https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/politics/courts/2025/10/23/sean-grayson-murder-trial-update-sonya-massey-opening-arguments-testimony-recap-first-day/86836288007/.