Sonya Massey’s killer Sean Grayson dies in US prison

Sean Grayson, a white US police officer convicted of murdering black woman Sonya Massey, has died in prison at the age of 32. The killing occurred during an incident at Massey's home in Illinois in 2024 after she reported a suspected intruder. Massey, 36, claimed she believed someone had broken into her property, leading to a confrontation with Grayson.

During the exchange, Grayson reportedly believed Massey was about to throw a pot of boiling water on him, prompting his fatal shooting. Grayson, who was undergoing treatment for colon cancer, had been found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. His lawyers confirmed his death on Sunday, though the exact cause was not disclosed.

Massey's family expressed their grief and wished peace for Grayson and his family, emphasizing that his death does not bring Sonya back. Protests erupted across the US following Massey's death, with then-President Joe Biden calling for her to be alive today. The incident, captured on police bodycam footage, illustrated the chaotic sequence of events leading to the fatal shooting.