UPDATED – 3:12 P.M.
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – The jury has delivered its verdict in the death of Sonya Massey, finding former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson guilty of second-degree murder.
25 News reports the verdict indicates the jury found intent to harm, but no premeditation in Massey’s death, which carries different sentencing implications than first-degree murder.
Grayson, 31, faced first-degree murder charges in the July 6, 2024 shooting of Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman. The jury’s instructions were to choose between a charge of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or not guilty.
The outcome, while a conviction, indicates that the jury found Grayson intended to cause harm to Massey, but also determined there was no premeditation in her death.
The defense had argued that what happened was a tragedy but not a crime, focusing on the justification of deadly force in the moment. The prosecution, while pushing for first-degree murder, offered second-degree murder as an option.
The verdict suggests the jury may have grappled with the intent versus premeditation aspect, perhaps swayed by the defense’s argument to view the situation from Grayson’s perspective in those 29 seconds before the shooting.
The verdict also carries a different sentencing structure than first-degree murder, often allowing for a wider range of penalties and potentially a shorter sentence.
The Massey family, while seeing a conviction for their loved one’s death, were visibly upset by the lesser charge, which falls short of the prosecution’s primary goal. They are expected to speak once court adjourns.
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PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – The jury has delivered its verdict in the death of Sonya Massey, finding former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson guilty of second-degree murder.
25 News reports the verdict indicates the jury found intent to harm, but no premeditation in Massey’s death, which carries different sentencing implications than first-degree murder.
This story will be updated.
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