A 31-year-old former college basketball star who was briefly a member of the Orlando Magic was shot to death at the Econ Landing townhomes in east Orange County overnight, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
In an unsigned statement, the agency said deputies were called to the 2500 block of Egret Shores Drive about 1:30 a.m., arriving to find Adreian Payne wounded. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
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According to the Sheriff’s Office, the shooter, 29-year-old Lawrence Dority, stayed at the scene of the killing and was later interviewed by homicide detectives at OCSO headquarters.
The agency did not release any details from the interview or about what led to the shooting.
Dority has been arrested on a first-degree murder warrant and booked into the Orange County Jail, where he is being held without bail.
The Magic on Monday issued a statement through Joel Glass, the organization’s chief communications officer: “Our thoughts and prayers are with [Payne] and his family during this difficult time.”
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According to a report by Sports Illustrated, a former teammate was first to break the news of Payne’s death. Others around the sport and basketball media have taken to social media to mourn his passing.
Payne starred at Michigan State from 2010-14, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors his junior and senior seasons before being drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the 15th pick of the 2014 NBA draft.
After stints with the Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves, Payne signed a two-way contract with the Magic in August 2017, allowing him to play for Orlando and its G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic. Payne played five games for Orlando and 17 for Lakeland during the 2017-18 season.
He was waived in January 2018 following an ESPN report that Michigan State mishandled sexual assault allegations against Payne and former Spartans player Keith Appling when they were students in August 2010.
After an investigation, Payne and Appling were not charged.
Payne continued his professional basketball career overseas after his time with the Magic, playing in Greece, China, France, Turkey and Lithuania over the last four years.
He signed with the Juventus Utena of the Lithuanian Basketball League in December 2021 before parting ways with the team in February.
