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An Orange County man is headed to state prison for the rest of his life for the murder of a former basketball player. Lawrence Dority was convicted of murder last month for the death of Adreian Payne. Payne was shot to death outside Dority’s home during a verbal confrontation in May 2022. He was 31 years old.
A Florida man is standing trial on charges he murdered a former NBA player, but the defendant says he acted in self-defense. Lawrence Dority is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Adreian De Angelo Payne, a former Michigan State standout who later played for the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks.
On May 9, 2022, Dority and his 10-year-old son returned home in a car driven by Dority’s father. When they arrived, they noticed a vehicle parked on the road near Dority’s townhome. Dority got out of the vehicle and walked over, where he was seen speaking with the driver, described by Dority’s father as being “very tall, possibly seven feet.” The driver, who was killed by a single bullet fired by Dority, was later identified as Payne. According to court documents reviewed by Court TV, Payne was in a relationship with a woman who was friends with Dority’s girlfriend.
Adreian Payne's cause of death ruled a homicide
New details have emerged about the shooting death of Adreian Payne. According to an autopsy report obtained by E! News July 28, the former NBA star's manner of death was formally ruled a homicide, listing his cause of death "gunshot wound of the arm and chest."
Authorities added that the shooter "stayed at the scene and was transported to OCSO headquarters where he was interviewed by homicide detectives." Lawrence Dority, who authorities identified as the shooter, was arrested on a warrant for first-degree murder and taken to the Orange County Jail. Dority was subsequently charged with first-degree murder with a firearm, according to a booking sheet obtained by E! News.
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The Volume: @Money23Green pays tribute to Adreian Payne.
.@Money23Green pays tribute to Adreian Payne 💚 pic.twitter.com/88Yk6Z9Nz0
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) May 10, 2022
According to an affidavit filed by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, 29-year-old Lawrence Dority said he was “intimidated” by Payne’s size and believed Payne had a weapon as they spoke near a car outside of a residence in Orlando. That’s when Dority said he went inside the home, retrieved a gun, and shot Payne one time. Based on the investigation, the affidavit states Dority committed premeditated murder, and that probable cause exists to charge Dority with first-degree murder with a firearm.
Draymond Green commits $100,000 to fund honoring Adreian Payne
As post-game emotions ran high after Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, Golden State Warriors forward and former Michigan State star Draymond Green told reporters that he and his wife plan to donate $100,000 to a foundation in honor of the former Spartan basketball player who died Monday. Adreian Payne was shot and killed early Monday morning in Orlando, Florida, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Payne, a 31-year-old native of Dayton, Ohio, played for the Spartans from 2010-14 and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors his junior and senior seasons.
"I am going to go home and sit on my podcast and talk because I can pause that and cry if I need to cry. I don't like to cry in front of people, Green said. "What I will say is, Hazel and I are going to donate $100,000 to a fund in Adreian's name. I call on my Spartan family, coach Izzo, Magic (Johnson), Jaren Jackson, Miles Bridges, all of my Spartan family, let's do something in honor of Adrien. Whether that's naming something on the campus after him, if that is some scholarships for some kids to play, whatever that is, I call on my Spartan family to ban together and do something in Adrien's name."
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Mark Medina: Draymond Green is going to reflect on Adreian Payne and the Game 4 win on his podcast because of his heavy emotions. But Draymond announced he and his wife plan to donation $100,000 to a foundation in honor of Payne. pic.twitter.com/6hFgGTR4lc
Draymond Green is going to reflect on Adreian Payne and the Game 4 win on his podcast because of his heavy emotions. But Draymond announced he and his wife plan to donation $100,000 to a foundation in honor of Payne. pic.twitter.com/6hFgGTR4lc
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) May 10, 2022
Connor Letourneau: Mike Brown on the death of Draymond Green's close friend and college teammate, Adreian Payne: "Draymond getting hit with something that impactful. Not only was it tough for him, but we felt it as a group."
Ohm Youngmisuk: Jaren Jackson Jr. on Adreian Payne: "Never want to see something like that happen. Prayers to his family. Definitely shook us all up. Super tough. I’ve already talked to a lot of alumni. Tough man. Saw Dray this morning. It’s tough on all of us... Life man, it’s precious."
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