The man accused of killing former Michigan State basketball star Adreian Payne entered a not guilty plea Tuesday morning in a Florida courtroom.
Lawrence Dority, 29, was charged with first-degree murder with a firearm following the shooting death early Monday morning of Payne in Orlando, Fla.
The Detroit Free Press on Tuesday reported more details about the killing of Payne, 31.
According to the newspaper, Payne and his girlfriend went to Dority’s home at the request of a female friend, Tatiana Mesa, who was in an allegedly abusive relationship with Dority.
Payne’s girlfriend, whose name was redacted in court documents, told authorities that she previously had intervened in arguments between Dority and Mesa as a mediator.
The Free Press reported that a court affidavit indicated Dority was dropped off at his home by his father and spotted a car, which the younger Dority approached. Payne and his girlfriend were sitting in the car. At some point, Dority went into his house to retrieve a gun.
According to court records, Dority told police he felt threatened by Payne and that that Payne was “making movements with his right hand in the right side of his waist band” and that he “observed the ‘shape of a gun’ on the right side of his shirt.” Payne was shot when he got out of the car.
The Free Press said Payne was not armed. A witness also told police that Payne wasn’t threatening Dority, per the report.
Dority called 911 from the house and admitted he shot Payne because he “tried shooting me. … He act like he got a gun, and I shot him,” the Free Press reported.
In the affidavit, Dority told deputies Payne was “getting in his face and was intimidating due to his size.” He added he believed the shooting was justified.
Payne averaged 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in 138 games (94 starts) from 2010-14 for the Spartans and coach Tom Izzo.
The 6-foot-10 Payne was selected #15 overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2014 NBA Draft and averaged 4.0 points in 107 career games (24 starts) with the Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic. He also played overseas as recently as February.
