OFFICER:
00:00:23
Sheriff's office.
JERICKA DUNCAN:
00:00:24
Prosecutors allege former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson murdered Sonia Massey in July of 2024 while responding to her 911 call about a prowler. According to court documents, Grayson and another officer entered her home after they did not find a prowler. Body-camera footage from inside her home shows Massey remove a pot of boiling water from the stove. After a short exchange, Massey says, "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus." Grayson then threatens to shoot her and draws his gun.
SEAN GRAYSON:
00:00:57
Drop the [BLEEP] pot. Drop the [BLEEP]. Drop the [BLEEP] pot.
JERICKA DUNCAN:
00:01:00
Prosecutors say Massey then ducked behind the counter, and Grayson fired his gun three times, killing her. Do you think we'll actually hear from Sean Grayson in his own words.
CAROLINE POLISI:
00:01:10
I doubt it. However, I would note this case is so strong for the prosecution that they may say it's worth it to roll the dice to put him on the stand to try to convince jurors that he had a reasonable fear because the body-camera footage is so damaging.
JERICKA DUNCAN:
00:01:27
The case prompted questions about police procedure at the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office. A CBS News investigation found dozens of allegations of misconduct within the office over the past 20 years. According to a CBS News review of Grayson's past employment records and disciplinary files, Grayson had jumped from department to department with a documented history of unsafe behavior on the job and making mistakes in police reports. Grayson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. If convicted, he could spend 45 years to life in prison. For CBSMornings, I'm Jericka Duncan. And in February, Sangamon County agreed to a $10 million settlement with Massey's family, and in August, Sonya's Law went into effect. It requires law-enforcement candidates to undergo full background checks. Yesterday, an attorney for Sean Grayson declined CBS News' request for comment.
