Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – on January 29 of 2026, at 9 am the sentencing hearing for Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County Sheriff Deputy convicted of the murder of Sonya Massey, took place.
This gathered a group of local individuals to rally for Sonya Massey. The rallying individuals held signs saying, “Black Lives Matter” and “justice for Sonya Massey”. The rallying parties also chanted many phrases. One of the things that were said were how law enforcement gets away with too many of the same crimes they are trying to stop. That officers tend to break the same laws they are trying to enforce, and go unpunished, or without proper justice.
Thursday, at approximately 10:25 am, justice was served to Grayson, giving the rallying group, and the family of Sonya Massey the justice they were praying for.
“No Justice, No Peace” is what one woman shouted, as another rallying member thumped on a drum. Another group of 6 people were singing “None of us are free until all of us are free”. Of course, many of the members of the rally group chanted Massey’s name after a man with a megaphone shouted, “Say her name!”
Upon the sentence being delivered, Statements were released by State Senator Doris Turner, Sangamon County Sheriff Paula Crouch, and by active members of the Massey Commission.
Senator Turner stated, “Nothing will bring Sonya back. Today’s sentencing does not change the fact Sean Grayson took an innocent life. I stand with the Massey family and my community as we continue to mourn the unjust loss of Sonya. Since Sonya’s murder, I’ve been committed to making the necessary changes to ensure our community has trust in those who protect and serve, and I’m dedicated to continuing this work now more than ever.”
The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department shared on their Facebook Page the statement from Sheriff Crouch.
Crouch stated, “Sonya Massey’s murder should never have happened. Today, the person responsible has been held accountable through the maximum sentence allowed under the law. I want to thank the Court and the State’s Attorney’s Office. We understand that no sentence can undo the loss suffered by the Massey family or the pain felt across our community. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office will continue strengthening training and oversight and ensuring that every call for help is handled with care, professionalism, and respect for human life.”
Within The Massey Commission’s release are statements made on behalf of the commission, as well as quotes from family members of Massey.
One statement from the Massey Commission states when the sentence was delivered, the courtroom exhaled and there were collective sighs of relief. Not because justice had been fully served, but because, for once, the system did not look away. For once, the loss of a black woman’s life at the hands of law enforcement was not discounted, deferred, or diminished.
Sonya Massey’s Cousin, Sontae Massey, states “Sonya’s death will follow me for the rest of my life. It is a permanent reminder of what happens when power is exercised without humanity, when a life is treated as disposable. One heinous act shattered an entire family- and that damage does not fade with time” And Sonya’s Mother reminded Grayson within her Victim Statement, what Sonyas last words included ‘Sean Grayson, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus!'”
