Suspect Found Guilty In Shocking Murder Case Involving Former Orlando Magic Player
Nearly three years after the tragic shooting that ended the life of former NBA player Adreian Payne, a jury found Lawrence Dority guilty of second-degree murder. On Wednesday, justice was served in the murder case in the 2022 killing of the former Orlando Magic forward.
As Dority left the courtroom in handcuffs, members of Payne’s family embraced, visibly emotional after a verdict they had waited years to hear. “Adreian was my little brother. I’m just happy to have justice. It took a long time—we’ve been waiting three years for this, and I’m glad it’s been done. The jury did their duty because we needed to get this menace off the streets. I’m glad he’s gone,” Antwan Payne said.
Payne, who played with the Orlando Magic during the 2017-18 NBA season, was shot outside a townhouse complex on Curry Ford Road. When deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrived, they found Payne unresponsive in his car. The 31-year-old later died. Dority claimed he acted in self-defense, but jurors rejected that argument after a lengthy trial.
Defense Fell Short In Front Of The Jury
Dority testified in his defense and became emotional when asked how many shots he fired. “I just want to go home,” he stated. He told the court he feared for his life and claimed the Orlando Magic star threatened to smoke him outside his home.
However, investigators revealed the former Orlando Magic player was not armed and never left his car. Instead of calling 911, Lawrence went inside to get a gun. Prosecutors argued that Payne was trying to help a woman involved in a domestic issue between Dority and his girlfriend.
The Jury decided that Dority was not facing an immediate threat. Under questioning, Dority admitted that the former Orlando Magic player came near his house and made it hard to prove a defense. The court will sentence Dority on August 29.
Suspect Found Guilty In Shocking Murder Case Involving Former Orlando Magic Player
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