Murder Trial of Illinois Sheriff’s Deputy Begins Amid National Scrutiny

Sun Dec 07 2025 00:59:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The jury selection has commenced for an Illinois sheriff's deputy charged with the murder of Sonya Massey, a Black woman shot in her own home last year. Security is heightened as the trial raises significant concerns about law enforcement practices in the U.S.

Jury selection is underway in Peoria for the trial of Sean Grayson, an Illinois sheriff’s deputy charged with the murder of Sonya Massey. The case comes under national scrutiny due to the controversial circumstances surrounding Massey’s death and has prompted changes in Illinois law regarding police transparency in hiring. Tight security measures are in place as the community responds with protests against police violence.

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Jury selection has begun in the murder trial of an Illinois sheriff’s deputy charged with killing Sonya Massey, a Black woman shot in her home last year after calling police for help.

Sean Grayson, 31, responding to a call about a suspected prowler, fired on the 36-year-old Massey in her Springfield home early on July 6, 2024, after confronting her about a pan of hot water that Grayson had ordered removed from her stove.

Security was notably tight in Peoria, where the trial has been relocated. A police tactical team was deployed around the downtown courthouse, and snipers were seen on rooftops surrounding the perimeter.

Massey's killing raised new questions about U.S. law enforcement shootings of Black people in their homes and prompted changes in Illinois law requiring fuller transparency regarding the background screenings of law enforcement candidates.

An outdoor protest drew around 60 participants, according to organizers, holding signs such as “The People Demand: End Police Terror” and “United Now Against Racial Violence.” James Wilburn, Massey’s father, was present in the courtroom observing the jury selection process.

During jury selection, attorneys questioned prospective jurors regarding their attitudes toward law enforcement amidst current sentiments surrounding police. Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser focused on jurors’ ties to law enforcement and whether they could fairly assess a police officer's actions.

Milhiser's closing remarks invited a show of hands from jurors on their belief in police authority using necessary force; no hands were raised. The defense plans to argue that Grayson's actions were justified due to the pan of hot water Massey held.

Grayson faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct, and has pleaded not guilty. The trial's relocation follows extensive national media coverage that led the judge to determine a fair jury could not be gathered in Springfield.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Grayson could face 45 years to life in prison.

Body camera footage reveals Grayson confronting Massey, who had been exhibiting signs of distress shortly before the shooting. The interaction escalated when Grayson demanded she drop the pot she held, resulting in three shots being fired, with one striking Massey.

Earlier in her life, Massey struggled with mental health issues and had recently admitted herself to a mental health program. In the days leading up to the incident, several 911 calls made by her family indicated she was in crisis.

The circumstances surrounding this incident hastened reforms in police hiring practices in Illinois, emphasizing the need for transparency regarding officers' backgrounds.