Adreian Payne was killed while trying to help a woman involved in an abusive relationship with his alleged shooter, court documents say.
The former Michigan State and NBA player was pronounced dead at an Orlando hospital after being shot early Monday morning. He was 31 years old. His alleged shooter, Lawrence Dority, remained at the scene and cooperated with police. Dority pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with a firearm Tuesday.
Alleged details emerge from the scene of Payne’s shooting
According to court documents obtained by the Detroit Free Press, Payne went to Dority’s house with his girlfriend early Monday morning at the request of Dority’s girlfriend. Payne’s girlfriend told authorities that she “previously responded as an intermediary to prevent any physical violence” between Dority and his girlfriend.
Adreian Payne, here with Michigan State in 2014. (Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Dority, meanwhile, told police his father dropped him off at his Orlando apartment when he saw an unidentified car parked at a nearby intersection. According to documents, Dority told Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies that he approached the car to find Payne and his girlfriend inside.
Conflicting statements from suspected shooter, witness
Dority’s father watched from his car and told police that Payne and his son began “talking closely” while Payne remained in his vehicle and that his son “appeared intimidated by the size difference and [his son’s] Attitude.” Payne was 6-foot-10 and 244 pounds, while Dority is 5-8 and 150 pounds.
Dority told police Payne told him, “I’m going to smoke you brah” and that he observed “the shape of a gun” while “making movements with his right hand on the right side of his pants waistband.” Per Dority, that prompted him to get his gun out of his house and shoot Payne.
A witness told police Payne “did not threaten Dority in any way.” Payne’s friend told police Payne posed no threat. A camera and microphone at the scene captured a woman imploring Dority, “Don’t draw your gun,” and “we were asked to come over here,” the statement said affidavit.
The story goes on
Dority claimed to have defended herself
Dority then allegedly fired a single shot at Payne before retiring to his home. Dority’s father told police that he contacted Payne for medical assistance to find him in the driver’s seat of the car. According to court records, Dority called 911 and told police he shot Payne in self-defense.
“This man tried to come to my house, he drove around my block and tried to shoot me,” Dority told the 911 dispatcher, according to the documents. … “He pretends he has a gun and I shot him.”
Florida has a stand-your-ground law that states:
“A person, not engaged in any unlawful activity, who is attacked in any other place where he has a right to be attacked, has no obligation to retreat and has the right to assert himself and to meet violence with violence , including deadly force, if he reasonably believes that doing so is necessary to prevent death or serious physical injury to himself or another, or the commission of a violent crime.
Police did not find a gun on Payne’s body or in his car, noting that Payne posed “no immediate threat” to Dority, according to documents. Dority was charged with murder after being questioned at a police station.
Payne played four seasons at Michigan State, where he was twice named a second-team All-Big Ten and helped the Spartans to an Elite Eight run as a senior. He was drafted No. 15 by the Atlanta Hawks in 2014 and played three seasons in the league, including stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic. He was fondly remembered by his former coaches and team-mates, including Tom Izzo and Draymond Green, following news of his death on Monday.