Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, was convicted Wednesday of second-degree homicide within the 2024 dying of Sonya Massey, a Black mom of two who had known as 911 a few doable prowler.
Grayson was charged with first-degree homicide, however jury directions included the choice to convict him of the lesser cost of second-degree homicide.
Former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow mentioned the protection made a “strategic determination” to incorporate the second-degree homicide cost.
“The prosecution seemingly felt assured about their case and was keen to go for an all-or-nothing verdict. However the protection didn’t wish to take that probability, so they advocated for a lesser included cost,” he informed NBC Information.
Grayson faces 4 to twenty years in jail for second-degree homicide. Beneath state legislation, he would seemingly be eligible to get day-for-day credit score for good habits in jail, that means he may find yourself serving solely half his sentence.
Grayson was charged in July 2024 within the deadly taking pictures of Massey, who had known as authorities over issues in regards to the doable prowler outdoors her Springfield house. Physique digital camera video reveals the moments she was shot and killed in her kitchen throughout a confrontation over a pot of boiling water.
Her dying led to requires justice, protests throughout the nation and reignited scrutiny about legislation enforcement shootings of Black individuals of their houses. Grayson is white.
Final week, Grayson’s former accomplice, Deputy Dawson Farley, testified that he was not scared by any of Massey’s actions. He mentioned he drew his weapon as a result of he was “making an attempt to again my accomplice.”
In closing arguments, the protection identified that Farley amended his police report after Grayson was charged with first-degree homicide, arguing Farley lied and adjusted his account.
The physique digital camera footage central to this case was performed within the courtroom 3 times, displaying Massey speaking to the deputies and eradicating a pot of scorching water from her range shortly earlier than the taking pictures.
On Monday, Grayson took the stand in his personal protection, telling the court docket that he believed Massey was going to throw the boiling water on him after she mentioned, “I rebuke you within the identify of Jesus.”
He testified that he took her comment as a menace, and that is why he drew his firearm. Grayson mentioned he didn’t attempt to use his stun gun as a result of he wasn’t positive if it might work due to her clothes.
“I didn’t wish to take the possibility of the Taser malfunctioning,” he mentioned. “The Taser doesn’t work on all people.”
In closing arguments Tuesday, First Assistant State’s Lawyer Mary Beth Rodgers mentioned Massey made no sudden actions and complied “peacefully” to drop the pot of water.
“‘I’m sorry.’ That’s the very last thing Sonya Massey mentioned earlier than the defendant murdered her, identical to he mentioned he would,” she informed the jury.
“He desires you to consider he was scared, however you don’t should consider that as a result of it’s not true,” Rodgers mentioned.
Rodgers argued that Grayson doesn’t get to say self-defense justified his taking pictures as a result of he provoked using power in opposition to himself.
Daniel Fultz, Grayson’s legal professional, mentioned Massey did initially comply and put the pot down, however “she escalated the state of affairs when she picked the pot again up, stood up, raised it over her head and commenced to throw it.”
He argued that Grayson drew his weapon to realize Massey’s compliance and mentioned her dying “was a tragedy, but it surely was not against the law.”
“You aren’t right here to determine whether or not or not Sean Grayson adopted each single coverage, each nationwide finest follow, each policing precept that specialists consider he ought to have adopted,” he mentioned in his closing argument. “That isn’t what we’re doing on this prison court docket at present.”
Fultz mentioned that Grayson believed his pistol was his solely possibility, and highlighted skilled testimony that Grayson needed to advance towards Massey to keep up a line of sight on her.
Fultz requested the jury to not let their feelings dictate the result of this case.
In Sangamon County State’s Lawyer John Milhiser’s closing closing argument to the jury, he argued that it was Grayson who let his feelings dictate what occurred in Massey’s kitchen.
“These weren’t the actions of a scared younger police officer doing a harmful job. These are the actions of a bully,” Milhiser mentioned. “If anybody was in disaster, it was him. He snapped.”
