Overview
- Grayson’s attorney confirmed late Sunday that the former Sangamon County deputy died on Aug. 23, 2026, while roughly six months into a 20‑year prison term.
- A jury convicted Grayson of second‑degree murder in October 2025 and a judge sentenced him to the statutory maximum of 20 years in January 2026.
- Defense lawyers had disclosed a 2023 colon cancer diagnosis that advanced in prison and Grayson sought medical release in May 2026; the Illinois Prisoner Review Board voted unanimously to deny that request on July 31, 2026, and officials have not publicly released an official cause of death.
- Body‑camera evidence played a central role at trial because Grayson’s own camera was largely off, prosecutors said he fired three times at Sonya Massey inside her home and did not provide medical aid after the shooting.
- The case produced national protests, prompted a DOJ civil‑rights review and led Illinois lawmakers to pass the Sonya Massey Act that tightens background checks for police hires, and Grayson’s death will likely renew scrutiny of medical‑release rules and prison healthcare practices.