PEORIA – On Monday, a jury was selected for the murder trial of former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson. Grayson faces charges of first-degree murder for the shooting death of 36-year-old Sonya Massey, which occurred in her kitchen after she called 911 to report a prowler outside her home southeast of Springfield on July 6, 2024. Alongside the murder charge, Grayson is also facing allegations of aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
According to a spokesperson for Massey’s family, she was in the midst of a mental health crisis at the time of the incident, raising further concerns about the circumstances surrounding her death. Due to significant media coverage leading up to the trial, a Sangamon County judge decided to move the proceedings to Peoria.
The jury selection process involved a pool of 100 potential jurors and concluded shortly before 5 p.m. on Monday with a jury plus three alternates being selected to hear the case. Grayson, who is 31 years old, appeared in court dressed in a charcoal suit and clean-shaven, accompanied by his defense attorneys Dan Fultz and Mark Wycoff.
Opening arguments for the trial are set to commence at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Attendees can expect continued coverage from Capitol News Illinois during the trial, as well as live updates from Peoria provided by Springfield’s Illinois Times newspaper.
This trial highlights crucial issues surrounding mental health crises and the responsibilities of law enforcement when responding to such situations. The outcome may have significant implications for both the community and the ongoing discussions regarding police conduct and accountability.