ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A man was found guilty Wednesday of shooting and killing former Orlando Magic player Adreian Payne in 2022.
Lawrence Dority was found guilty of second-degree murder and will be sentenced Aug. 29. Despite Dority’s claim of self-defense, the jury did not accept it.
Payne, who played for the Magic during the 2017-2018 season, was shot and killed outside a townhouse complex off Curry Ford Road. According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Payne was in his car when deputies arrived at the scene.
Dority was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs as Payne’s family embraced each other, relieved by the verdict.
The family of Payne celebrated upon leaving the Orange County courthouse following the jury’s decision.
Antwan Payne, Adreian’s brother, expressed relief and gratitude for the verdict.
“Adreian was my little brother. I’m just happy to have justice,” Antwan Payne said. “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.”
Dority on Tuesday took the stand in his own defense and broke down while responding to a question about how many shots he fired, tearfully saying, “I just want to go home.”
Dority maintained that he was acting in self-defense to protect himself and his family. He described his state of mind, saying, “I was thinking I was going to die.”
When asked why he felt that way, Dority explained, “He’s outside my house, and he said he’s going to ‘smoke me.’”
[VIDEO BELOW: Prosecution challenges self-defense claim]
Investigators reported that Payne was attempting to assist a woman involved in a domestic dispute that allegedly involved Dority and his girlfriend. Dority claimed self-defense, but authorities indicated that Payne was not holding a weapon.
The prosecution argued that there was no imminent danger to him. During questioning, Dority confirmed Payne did not follow him inside his house and remained at his car while Dority retreated to his house, where he got a gun.
When pressed about not calling 911 and instead arming himself, Dority responded that he did not think calling authorities was necessary at that moment.
Dority is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 29.