A 32-year-old man who was found guilty of murdering a former Orlando Magic player will spend the rest of his life in prison.
On Friday, Lawrence Alexander Dority was sentenced to life in prison for the death of 31-year-old former first-round NBA draft pick and Michigan State basketball star Adreian Payne, who was shot and killed in east Orlando on May 9, 2022.
At around 1:35 a.m. on the morning of the deadly shooting, Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 2500 block of Egret Shores Drive in reference to shots being fired.
Upon arrival, deputies found the victim, Payne, who was suffering from a gunshot wound. Payne was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Dority was at the scene, and he agreed to be transported to OCSO headquarters for an interview. He was later identified by law enforcement as the suspected shooter.
After he was interviewed by homicide detectives, Dority was arrested, booked into Orange County Jail, and charged with first-degree murder.
Last month, during a three-day trial, Dority claimed that he had acted in self-defense on the morning of the shooting, adding that he felt threatened by Payne. However, the trial ended with him being convicted of second-degree murder in connection with Payne’s death.
Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Payne was drafted from the Michigan State Spartans in the 2014 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks with the 15th pick.
Payne played for four seasons in the NBA, appearing in over 100 games for the Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Orlando Magic. He also appeared with Utenos Juventus, a Lithuanian professional basketball club based in Utena, Lithuania.