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Ex-cop convicted of Sonya Massey’s murder denied early prison release
Chicago Sun-Times • • general
Key Points:
- The Illinois Prisoner Review Board unanimously denied Sean Grayson's petition for early release under the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act, despite his terminal Stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis.
- Grayson, a former sheriff’s deputy, is serving a 20-year sentence for the second-degree murder of Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman he fatally shot in her kitchen after responding to her 911 call.
- Massey’s family and supporters praised the board’s decision, emphasizing the injustice of Grayson's actions and the value of Massey’s life, while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker highlighted the broader issue of violence against innocent Black Americans.
- Prosecutors and the State’s Attorney argued that Grayson’s temper and dangerous behavior were not mitigated by his illness, noting he was already diagnosed with cancer at the time of the shooting, and no letters of support were submitted on his behalf.
- Grayson has the option to reapply for early release, but previous attempts, including a request for a reduced sentence, have been denied by the courts.
